While the crowd at the KIA Center Thursday night may have been bummed by the Minnesota Minnesota Timberwolves 104-89 victory there is still celebration among Orlando Magic fans — the projected return of franchise forward Paolo Banchero.

Dealing with a right oblique injury since October 30th, Banchero’s status was updated to “questionable” leading into shoot around before tipoff after which he was downgraded to “out” for “return to competition reconditioning”. After missing 34 games thus far this season, it looks like the smart money is that he plays Friday night on the second of the back-to-back hosting the Milwaukee Bucks.

Currently down their second and third-best stars in Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs heading into Thursday night, Banchero’s return couldn’t come at a better time. While Orlando managed to best the New York Knicks on Monday night with the same starting lineup Thursday night with 24 points from Cole Anthony, it did not go as well Thursday night.

That being said, there’s not much Banchero could have done against the ‘Wolves Anthony Edwards bombing his first three-pointers in the first quarter for nine points where the T-Wolves shot 60% from the floor compared to the Magic’s 31.8%. Minnesota led 29-18 after the first quarter as a result.

In the second quarter, the Magic managed to tie it at 37 before 4:30 left in the half, but the ‘Wolves went on a 15-2 run to lead 52-39 heading into the locker room. Mike Conley poured in seven of his nine points on the night to help Minnesota extend their lead at the half. Edwards and Julius Randle were both in double figures while Orlando had no one had more than seven points in the first 24 minutes.

In the third quarter, the Magic cut the lead to five within the first four minutes, but once again, the T-Wolves finished the quarter with a run to extend the lead to make it 78-62. Edwards Naz Reed each scored seven in that quarter. Reed finished with 16 points.

Minnesota maintained control of the game through the final quarter, with Edwards finishing with 21 points and Randle with 23, which was part of a double-double with 10 rebounds. Rudy Gobert also had a double-double on 10 points with 12 boards.

Center Goga Bitadze was the top contributor for that Magic as he scored  15 points with eight rebounds and three blocks.

After hosting the Bucks Friday night with the likely turn of Banchero, the Philadelphia 76ers come to town Sunday for the final game of their three-game home stand where they then travel to Milwaukee Wednesday night.