The Orlando Magic are nonetheless removed from complete, however they obtained quite a bit nearer to resembling their full selves vs. the Atlanta Hawks.
With the returns of Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony Wednesday at Amway Center, the Magic not solely had 12 gamers out there after having 9 in Monday’s highway loss to the Brooklyn Nets, however they obtained again two of their extra distinguished guards.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t sufficient for the Magic to finish their shedding streak, falling to the Hawks 125-108 for his or her sixth consecutive loss, dropping to 5-17 on the season.
Fultz made his season debut as a starter alongside Gary Harris, Franz Wagner (22 factors, 6 rebounds and three assists), Paolo Banchero (20 factors, 5 rebounds) and Bol Bol (6 factors, 5 rebounds).
Harris exited the sport due to proper hamstring tightness, not scoring in 17 first-half minutes.
Fultz missed the primary 21 video games after fracturing his huge left toe late within the offseason in September, which additionally compelled him to be sidelined for coaching camp and the preseason.
“I’m always so happy to see him back on the floor,” coach Jamahl Mosley stated of Fultz. “Every time he walks in the gym, you get to see his level of excitement and joy for the game.”
Anthony missed the final 16 video games after exiting the Oct. 26 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers with a torn proper inner indirect.
He averaged 15.5 factors, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 4 video games (30.5 minutes) earlier than his harm.
“He’s a guy who can create offense on his own and certainly play off the ball,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan stated pregame, “and gives them another weapon coming off the bench.”
Mosley stated Fultz was on a minutes restriction of about quarter-hour whereas Anthony’s minutes restriction was round 20.
Fultz had 8 factors (3-of-8 capturing, 2 of two on FTs) and 4 assists in 17 minutes whereas Anthony fouled out with 4:07 remaining, recording 11 factors (3-of-7 capturing), 4 rebounds and a couple of assists in 24 minutes.
Trae Young (30 factors, 14 assists) and Dejounte Murray (27 factors, 6 assists) led a Hawks offense that scored 62 factors within the paint, had 14 offensive rebounds for 20 second-chance factors and scored 22 factors off the Magic’s 18 turnovers.
The improved participant availability might be useful for a Magic workforce that has handled well being points all season. They’ve had a minimum of 5 gamers sidelined every recreation and had 121 complete participant video games missed to harm/sickness — probably the most within the league.
The Magic have been particularly skinny at guard, with Anthony, Fultz, Harris and Jalen Suggs lacking a mixed 62 video games.
Harris missed the season’s first 15 video games whereas he recovered from a process on his left knee in late August after tearing cartilage, which additionally compelled him to overlook coaching camp.
Suggs, who was sidelined for 5 video games earlier within the season due to a sprained proper ankle, sat for the third consecutive recreation due to proper ankle soreness.
Wendell Carter Jr. (strained proper plantar fascia pressure), Jonathan Isaac (left knee harm restoration), Chuma Okeke (left knee soreness) and Mo Bamba (again spasms) additionally sat.
“It’s great to have guards back on the floor,” Mosley stated. “A lot of it is going to be a rhythm for these guys. Because they’re back in the lineup, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to fall back into the puzzle piece right away. They’ve got to develop a chemistry, how they play with the guys in the lineup — we’re going to have to keep looking at that.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com