With Paolo Banchero missing his fourth consecutive contest Thursday night against the Clippers, second-year pro Tristan da Silva has found himself in a familiar spot.

The young Magic wing was thrown into the fire early last season and made 38 starts in 74 appearances as a rookie when Banchero missed two-plus months a year ago due to a torn right abdominal muscle.

Now as Banchero rehabs a left groin strain, da Silva isn’t having to play catchup on a nightly basis with Orlando.

“I just feel more comfortable,” he said at the AdventHealth Training Center after shootaround Thursday. “Knowing the game plan, knowing the opponents now since I played against them a couple times already. There’s just more familiarity there.”

Despite the circumstances, da Silva doesn’t take the role lightly, as he’s been asked to help initiate certain actions on offense and defend at a high level on the other end of the floor.

In the three starts before Thursday’s game, da Silva averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals per night.

“Being a starter, that’s already a big deal of responsibility because you set the tone for the rest of the game and most of the time finish the game too,” he said. “My coaches and teammates put a lot of trust into me, and I’m just happy and glad to be in a position like that.”

Banchero update

Wednesday marked one week since Banchero suffered the left groin strain that’s sidelined him for four games. After battling the Clippers on Thursday, the Magic host the Knicks on Saturday and travel to Boston the next night.

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said Banchero was only able to continue to do non-contact, weight room work at shootaround. Mosley shared a similar message to the team’s original update when he was asked how much more time Banchero could potentially miss.

“They don’t put timelines on it,” Mosley said. “As he recovers from each session, we’ll go from there.”

Penda action

In his first G League game on assignment with Osceola on Wednesday night, Magic rookie Noah Penda did a little bit of everything for coach Dylan Murphy.

The second-round pick racked up 14 points (2-for-6 from 3), eight rebounds, two blocks, two steals and an assist in 32 minutes off the bench against the Austin Spurs, who hosted Osceola again Thursday night.

Magic distribute dinner

Magic rookie Jase Richardson and Mosley joined forces with staff members to hand out Thanksgiving meals at the Eatonville Boys & Girls Club on Wednesday night.

A total of 400 meals were distributed to underserved families in the Central Florida area.

Richardson said one of the first things he told the Orlando coaching staff after June’s draft was that he wanted to be involved in the community, something he’s done since he was a kid.

“Anyway I can at anytime I can, I’m willing to do that,” said Richardson, whose father Jason spent 13 years in the league, which included two with the Magic.

Added Mosley about the rookie: “It reflects him the way he was raised … It is so important that we continue to do that as an organization. We’re about giving back.”

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

Up next …

Magic vs. Knicks

When: 5 p.m., Saturday, Kia Center

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida/NBA TV