Paolo Banchero to Miss Knicks Game with Ankle Injury

The New York Knicks will not have to face Orlando Magic All-Star Paolo Banchero when the two teams meet at Madison Square Garden on Sunday. Banchero has been diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, an injury that will keep him sidelined for the matchup.

Banchero sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of the Magic's loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday. He is the leading scorer for the Magic, who, like the Knicks, have started their season with an 0-2 record. In the Magic's opening-night loss to the Atlanta Hawks earlier in the week, Banchero scored 35 points on efficient 10-of-12 shooting.

The Knicks, meanwhile, are the first defending champions to begin a season with two losses since the Dallas Mavericks in 2011, having fallen to the Boston Celtics on Friday. Knicks coach Mike Brown stated his team breaks the season into five-game segments and aims to hit certain marks within those segments, noting that anything less than a 3-2 record indicates players are not reaching their potential.

Separately, an MSG spokesperson clarified Saturday that the organization's plan to distribute championship rings to employees, costing $3.7 million, was always in place and not a reaction to recent reports. The plan includes rings for the entire assistant coaching staff. The statement acknowledged that the choice to use the ring distribution as a method for reminding employees about cybersecurity protocols was a mistake, for which they apologized to employees and fans. The spokesperson added that the players' rings were part of the opening-night ceremony, and other employees would receive theirs in four to six weeks.