Carter Jr. gets first start as depleted team takes on Jazz

Saturday night’s Magic-at-Jazz game was not completed in time for this edition. Read the late game story in our e-edition at Orlando Sentinel.com/late or on our website.

When the Orlando Magic took the floor Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Clippers, they did so with 11 available players. Saturday night in Salt Lake City, that number was down to eight as Orlando took on the Utah Jazz, the NBA’s best team.

But hey, the Magic have been here before.

Orlando faced Utah, winners of 21 straight games at home, without Michael Carter-Williams (flu), Khem Birch (flu), Otto Porter Jr. (sore foot) and Karim Mane (sore hamstring). With Birch out, Magic coach Steve Clifford planned to start newly acquired Wendell Carter Jr. at center.

He joined James Ennis, Chuma Okeke, Dwayne Bacon and Chasson Randle, who was making his fifth start of the season, in the

starting lineup.

Mo Bamba, Terrence Ross and R.J. Hampton were the reserves.

The Magic entered Saturday’s game with 255 total player games missed this season due to injury and/ or illness — the most in the NBA.

The Magic faced the Trail Blazers on March 26 with eight available players, but Carter, Hampton and Porter had yet to join the team.

“They play as well as anybody in the league, but you never know in this league,” Clifford said of facing the Jazz with a depleted roster. “I thought the guys were good this morning. We’ll see. I’ll be disappointed if we don’t play hard, and hopefully we can give ourselves a chance in the fourth quarter.”

Clifford said Porter is in a walking boot and indicated his playing status is questionable for Sunday’s game in Denver, where Orlando will close out its five-game road trip. The contest tips off at 10 p.m. and will be broadcast on Bally Sports Florida.