Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz might make his season debut vs. the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday at Amway Center.
Fultz was upgraded to questionable on the Saturday harm report after being sidelined for the season’s begin, lacking the primary 19 video games due to a fractured left huge toe.
The Magic enter 5-14 after Friday’s 107-99 dwelling loss to the 76ers (10-9).
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 timeframe of Wednesday-Dec. 7 — and reaffirmed these hopes to the Sentinel final week.
It seems like Fultz, who practiced Wednesday, might return somewhat sooner than he anticipated towards his former staff (6 p.m., Bally Sports Florida/Bally Sports+/FM 96.9 The Game).
“It’s tough with my competitive nature and seeing my brothers go out there and play the game, seeing where I can help at and seeing where I can go out there and be with them and not being able to do that,” Fultz informed the Sentinel on the time. “That’s probably the toughest part. I’m just waiting on my opportunity and supporting them any way I can while I’m off the court. When my time comes, best believe I’ll be ready.”
Cole Anthony (torn proper inside indirect) and Jonathan Isaac (left knee harm restoration) are the lone Magic gamers who have been listed as out on Saturday’s harm report.
Rookie ahead Paolo Banchero, the Magic’s main scorer, and Moe Wagner made their returns from harm in Friday’s loss.
Terrence Ross was listed as possible after lacking Friday due to an sickness whereas Fultz, beginning huge man Wendell Carter Jr. (strained proper plantar fascia — comfortable tissue below the foot), two-way wing Kevon Harris (sickness), Chuma Okeke (left knee soreness) and Jalen Suggs (proper ankle soreness) have been listed as questionable.
The 76ers’ prime three scorers, Joel Embiid (sprained left midfoot), Tyrese Maxey (fractured left foot) and James Harden (strained proper foot tendon), are out. Matisse Thybulle (left ankle irritation) and Jaden Springer (strained proper thigh) are also out.
Suggs performed 19 minutes Friday and didn’t return after being subbed out with 6:26 left within the third quarter.
He’s persistently had points together with his proper ankle. Suggs injured it final season and missed 13 of the ultimate 18 video games. He had surgical procedure to deal with a stress fracture early within the offseason, limiting how a lot he might take part in basketball actions. Suggs sat for 5 video games after spraining it within the second recreation of the season, a loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 21.
“He’s OK,” coach Jamahl Mosley stated. “Just watching him move a little bit, I just wanted to re-evaluate where he was.”
Fultz is coming into the second season of a 3-year, $50 million contract ($35 million assured) he signed with the Magic in December 2020.
He has a $16.5 million wage for 2022-23 that’s absolutely assured, whereas $2 million of his $17 million wage is assured for the 2023-24 season. Next season’s wage will grow to be absolutely assured if he’s on the roster previous July 1.
Fultz’s harm struggles have restricted his taking part in time (131 video games in 5 seasons) since being the No. 1 total decide within the 2017 NBA draft.
“I’ve been through so much,” he stated. “I understand this process, be patient and listen to your body and when that time comes, just be ready for it.”
He performed in simply 33 video games from 2017-19 with the 76ers due to a nerve problem in his proper shoulder. He was dealt to the Magic forward of the 2019 commerce deadline.
Fultz’s healthiest season got here with the Magic in 2019-20, when he performed 72 video games (60 begins) and averaged 12.1 factors (46.5% capturing) and 5.1 assists in 27.7 minutes.
He missed many of the final two seasons due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee simply eight video games into the 2020-21 season.
After a 14-month absence, Fultz returned in a house win over the Indiana Pacers on Feb. 28 and averaged 10.8 factors (47.4% capturing), 5.5 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals in 20 minutes (18 video games).
He ought to present the Magic with regular on-ball playmaking and open up off-ball scoring alternatives for a number of of his teammates — particularly Banchero and Franz Wagner.
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com