Sean Sweeney leans toward Jase Richardson in the Magic’s starting five as 0-2 Orlando begins a month without Paolo Banchero

Orlando Magic coach Sean Sweeney is set to hand second-year guard Jase Richardson the starting spot left open by Paolo Banchero‘s ankle sprain, the first lineup call of a stretch that could last a month for an 0-2 team. Asked before Sunday’s game at the New York Knicks who would replace his star, Sweeney said the Magic would “probably lean towards Jase Richardson right now,” according to the Orlando Sentinel.

It is a guard-first answer to the loss of a forward. The other obvious option was Tristan da Silva, who has led the bench in minutes in both games so far, and Sweeney’s choice keeps the wing who has started the season cold in his familiar reserve role.

A month without the offense’s hub

The Magic confirmed through an MRI that Banchero has a low-grade right high ankle sprain, suffered in the first half of Friday’s 115-93 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Banchero told reporters on Sunday that he expects to be out for at least a month, roughly four weeks, and that he does not plan to rush back.

His absence takes away the player the offense ran through. In the 132-125 opening loss to the Atlanta Hawks, Banchero scored 35 points on 10-of-12 shooting with 10 assists and 7 rebounds in 41 minutes. Orlando never led on Friday, played the second half without him, shot 8 of 39 from three and was outrebounded 60-43, including 21-8 on the offensive glass.

What Richardson and the bench bring

Richardson has played about 14 minutes in each game, with 8 points and 6 assists combined and no more than two turnovers in either. He was a plus-5 against Atlanta and a minus-18 against Minnesota. Starting him puts another ball handler next to Jalen Suggs and Desmond Bane, with Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. up front. Carter has been the most efficient starter so far, 16 of 19 from the field across two games.

Da Silva, who scored 14 against Atlanta with four threes before going 1 of 7 from deep on Friday, stays in the second unit, and that group gets a lift. The Magic announced that Anthony Black, their sixth man, is available to make his season debut after missing two games with a right ankle sprain. Noah Penda, Jonathan Isaac and Izaiyah Nelson remain out.

Sweeney’s other concern after Friday was the glass. He said his team needs to be more physical and “hit guys a little bit more” on long rebounds, a demand that grows without Banchero’s size.

What comes next

The Magic visit the Knicks on Sunday, October 25, at Madison Square Garden, a meeting of two teams still looking for a first win. Follow it in the Game Center.