Injured Vooch, ’Melo sit out

Center missed his second consecutive game when his Orlando Magic hosted the New York Knicks on Monday night at Amway Center.

Vucevic has a sore right Achilles’ tendon.

again started at center in Vucevic’s place. Magic coach

faces a conundrum whenever Biyombo goes to the bench: Does Vogel play rookie

at center or go 6-foot-9 forward

at the position? In the Magic’s 115-114 loss Sunday to the Washington Wizards, Vogel played Zimmerman five minutes in the second quarter but employed Green as Biyombo’s backup in the second half.

Zimmerman, who is 20, declared for the NBA Draft after he played just one season at UNLV. The Magic selected him 41st overall.

“We’re not sure if he’s quite ready to play meaningful minutes for us,” Vogel said. “He’s still a very with young player. So you throw him out there, see how he does and then when it gets in the fourth quarter or late in the third ... you just use your gut.”

To begin Monday’s second quarter, Vogel went with Green at center and

at power forward.

The Knicks also were shorthanded Monday night.

New York’s leading scorer and a longtime Magic tormentor, sat out because of a sore left knee.

Anthony injured the knee in the Knicks’ loss Sunday to the Golden State Warriors.

“It’s pretty Knicks coach

said before tipoff.

“When you wrench it like that and it’s sore, if you compound it and try to play tonight, then he’d probably be out for the next few games.

“So it’s better just to take this one off and get it healed.”

Hornacek said the team hopes Anthony will be sore,” Monday’s able to play in the Knicks’ game Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Forgive Magic and Knicks players if Monday’s game gave them cases of déjà vu.

The Magic lost to the Knicks 101-90 only five days earlier, on March 1, at Amway Center.

“It’s actually fun,” Vogel said.

“I’m just viewing this as one of those situations that’s a little bit like a playoff feel.

“Between Game 1 and Game 2 you make some adjustments and see the things that they hurt you with, and you’ve got to adjust.” kind of

The Magic will spend the remainder of the season attempting to forge an identity.

Vogel wants the team to play small ball, swarm opponents on defense and push the ball in transition whenever possible.

But that’s not necessarily going to be the team’s identity next season.

Vogel indicated he’ll see what the 2017-18 roster looks like and then make any necessary adjustments.

Rather than force next year’s roster to conform to the current style of play, Vogel explained that he could adjust the style to fit the personnel, depending on the personnel’s strengths.

“We’ll see what we look like next year,” Vogel said.

“This is how we look right now, and I think we can benefit from this style of play. I think it fits our personnel better. Hopefully, it’ll lead to some wins.” The Magic scored the game’s first 11 points. scored first 17 11 of Orlando’s points. The Knicks made two of their first 16 shots.