For almost 24 hours, it regarded just like the Orlando Magic had been going to take a big step in having extra gamers accessible Sunday vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.
That didn’t come to fruition.
The Magic had been with out six key gamers of their season-worst 133-103 loss to the 76ers, their second defeat to Philadelphia in three days as a part of their “baseball-style” sequence that began with a 107-99 loss Friday at Amway Center.
Cole Anthony (torn proper inner indirect), Wendell Carter Jr. (strained proper plantar fascia pressure), Markelle Fultz (fractured left huge toe), Jonathan Isaac (left knee harm restoration), Chuma Okeke (left knee soreness) and Jalen Suggs (proper ankle soreness) sat.
The absences of Anthony and Isaac had been anticipated, with each coming into Sunday being listed as out.
But Carter, Fultz, Okeke and Suggs had been all listed as questionable forward of tipoff, making it potential the Magic had been going to have a number of rotation gamers again — which didn’t occur.
Player-availability points associated to accidents aren’t new for the Magic. They’ve had at the least 5 gamers sidelined every recreation and had 107 whole participant video games missed to harm/sickness coming into Sunday.
While acknowledging the challenges that include being short-handed persistently, they haven’t made excuses and have battled in most video games — making Sunday’s loss regarding.
It was their third loss by at the least 18 factors — all of which have come up to now two weeks — and the second within the final week by at the least 20. Their earlier largest deficit in a loss this season was their 123-102 defeat to the Pacers in Indianapolis final Monday.
Paolo Banchero had a team-high 18 factors whereas Franz Wagner added 17 factors.
The 76ers’ 64.9% discipline aim accuracy (55 of 77) tied highest the Magic have allowed in franchise historical past. They additionally allowed the San Antonio Spurs to shoot 64.9% from the sphere on Dec. 19, 2018.
“We didn’t play any,” coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned concerning the workforce’s protection. “That’s the reality of it right there.”
Shake Milton (29 factors, 7 assists and 5 rebounds) and Tobias Harris (25 factors on 7-of-10 taking pictures) led the 76ers’ environment friendly offense. Philadelphia, who was additionally short-handed, scored 72 factors within the paint.
The 76ers had been with out Joel Embiid (sprained left midfoot), Tyrese Maxey (fractured left foot) and James Harden (strained proper foot tendon).
“It’s frustrating to be short-handed, but everybody is. Look at the 76ers, they had nine fuys today. That’s not an excuse.”
If Fultz performed, it could’ve been his season debut after being sidelined for the season’s begin, lacking the primary 20 video games due to a fractured left huge toe.
Fultz fractured the toe shortly earlier than coaching camp began on Sept. 27.
He informed the Orlando Sentinel on Nov. 9 that he hoped to return “within the next 3-4 weeks” — a time-frame of Wednesday-Dec. 7.
“We’re just going to give it a couple of more days just to as he gets going,” Mosley mentioned pregame.
Mosley added that Fultz gained’t be accessible for Monday’s street recreation in opposition to the Brooklyn Nets in New York, the second evening of a back-to-back.
Suggs performed 19 minutes Friday and didn’t return after being subbed out with 6:26 left within the third quarter.
“He tried to give it a go the other night and obviously, it didn’t look the part in my eyes,” Mosley mentioned of Suggs. It’s consistently serving to him perceive we gotta play the longer model of this vs. proceed to press on it.”
His absence was thought-about precautionary.
Carter has missed 5 of 6 video games with the foot harm whereas Okeke’s absence was his second of the season.
Terrence Ross, who was accessible after sitting Friday due to an sickness, was dominated out in the course of the third quarter. Mo Bamba additionally left in the course of the third due to spasms.
Mosley mentioned he anticipated each gamers to journey for Monday’s recreation however wasn’t completely certain when talking to reporters instantly after Sunday’s loss.
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