Vucevic regains starting job

PORTLAND, Ore. — With the Orlando Magic faltering and their playoff hopes in jeopardy, coach

intends to make significant changes with the team’s lineup and playing rotation.

will start at center when the Magic play the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night at the Moda Center while will come Vogel said.

Vogel also said he probably will employ more small-ball lineups and rely less often on lineups that feature two big men playing simultaneously.

“We looked at the other lineup, with Biz and Serge [Ibaka] playing together and Vooch bringing us a spark off the bench, and there were some good things,” Vogel said. “But we’re still not playing at a high-enough level. So we’re going to flip it back with Vooch in the starting lineup and Biz coming off the bench. off the bench,

“[We’ll] probably play less big-big lineups than we had been playing. Part of the reason, I think, that we haven’t been able to get over the hump is trying to force that maybe a little too much. So we’ll play more spread lineups with

at the four.” With Green playing less at small forward, Vogel also intends to put

back into the ro- tation as primary backup forward.

Vogel said: “I think Aaron Gordon showing a great comfort level at the small forward position at this point in the season, as opposed to where we were the first two or three weeks of the season, stabilizes things a little bit for Mario to get another shot. And Aaron’s success at the small forward position and comfort level at the small forward position gives me confidence to give Mario another shot at the backup small forward.”

Vogel employed a start-

at

small ing lineup of Ibaka at power forward and either Vucevic or Biyombo at center in all 39 of the Magic’s first 39 games.

In Game 40 Wednesday night, with Ibaka out with a sore right shoulder, Vogel altered his lineup because the Los Angeles Clippers play a smaller lineup due to

recovery knee surgery.

Vogel began the game with Green at power forward and Vucevic at center, and the Magic fared well against the Clippers.

Orlando lost the game 105-96, but the result could have been different. The Magic’s offense missed a lot of open looks in the fourth quarter.

Hezonja played 12 minutes. Although he struggled guarding Clippers sixth man

Hezonja had a pair of nice assists.

Hezonja has remained patient since he fell out of the Magic’s rotation in November, but he obviously from welcomes the chance to play more meaningful minutes.

“That’s why I’m here, right?” Hezonja said Thursday. “It’s amazing when you’re out on the court with your teammates playing against everybody. That’s why I’m here: to play. So it’s a great feeling.”

who injured his right shoulder Sunday and did not play against the Clippers, took a step forward Thursday.

He played live three-onthree against Magic players and traveling staff at the Moda Center and went through an extensive shooting routine.

It’s unclear whether Ibaka will play against the Blazers.

“He looks pretty good, but we’ll see how he responds to this workout,” Vogel said.