The latest on player health and status ahead of Friday night's matchup between the Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks.

Paolo Banchero is not a patient person. The Orlando Magic forward acknowledges that he’s been frustrated for much of the last 2 1/2 months while recovering from a torn oblique muscle, one that kept him out of the lineup for 34 games.

Banchero has missed the Magic's last 33 games, and he will reportedly miss a 34th on when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday. On the official injury report, he is still listed as "questionable" for that game, as of Thursday afternoon.

Paolo Banchero made his highly anticipated return on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks with a special Undertaker-themed video.

Paolo Banchero will play on Friday against the Milwaukee Bucks, the Orlando Magic announced. Banchero has not seen game action since tearing his oblique in October. He missed 34 games due to the injury.

Orlando Magic star forward Paolo Banchero is expected to return to the court in either one of the team's back-to-back home games this week, ESPN reported on Wednesday.

As expected, Banchero will return to action Friday after missing Orlando's last 34 contests due to a right oblique strain. While the star forward will likely operate on a minutes restriction, he should reclaim his starting spot from either Caleb Houstan or Tristan da Silva against Milwaukee.

Banchero has been out since before Halloween with a torn oblique but is expected to return Thursday (Timberwolves) or Friday (Bucks).

Following a 34-game absence due to a torn right abdominal muscle, Paolo Banchero returned to the Kia Center court Friday against the Bucks.

It might take a while for chemistry to regenerate with Orlando’s All-Star forward, but the team is 19-14 without him entering Thursday.

Banchero will return to the floor and start Friday against the Bucks.