NBA Notes: Magic, Paolo Banchero, Heat, Tyler Herro, Bulls

Magic

Paolo Banchero will miss his eighth straight game on Friday, as the Magic ruled him out again with that lingering left groin strain, per Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel.

Banchero said earlier in the week that he felt “pretty close,” but he won’t get another shot until Monday against the Bulls, meaning his return won’t come until at least December.

Orlando could really use him in Detroit. The Magic visit the Pistons with an NBA Cup quarterfinal spot on the line. The winner gets in.

If the Magic lose, they still have a strong chance at the East wild card — as long as they avoid a blowout.

Heat

Tyler Herro looks like he never left. After a sharp season debut on Monday, he followed it with 29 points, seven assists and five rebounds in 32 minutes in Wednesday’s win over the Bucks, as noted by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Herro said he’s focused on reading defenses early in the shot clock.

“I’m just trying to play off the catch,” he said. “Get downhill, get to my spot before the defense gets set.”

He added that his foot still needs a little more strength before he’s fully explosive again, calling it a “couple weeks” process.

Even so, Miami is already getting downhill scoring and playmaking back from one of its best offensive engines.

Bulls

Chicago heads to Charlotte on Friday with a full medical wing, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic.

Kevin Huerter (pelvic contusion), Dalen Terry (left calf strain), Nikola Vucevic (right patellofemoral syndrome), Coby White (calf strain injury management) and Patrick Williams (left wrist sprain) are all questionable.

Isaac Okoro is doubtful with left lumbar radiculopathy, meaning the Bulls could be down six rotation players if everything breaks the wrong way.

Chicago enters the night at9-8 and could use some stability. They’ve leaned heavily on Vucevic, White and Williams early — and each of those three is on the injury report.