Payton has hamstring strain
CLEVELAND — Only 17 NBA players played in all 82 regular-season games last season.
Elfrid Payton was one of them.
But his ironman days are over, at least for now.
Payton sat out the Orlando Magic’s game Saturday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena because of a strained left hamstring.
Payton underwent an MRI on Saturday, and Magic coach Frank Vogel said the exam revealed Payton had sustained a “mild to moderate strain.” Vogel and Payton would not provide a timetable on when they expect Payton to return, but the word “moderate” should be disconcerting to the Magic.
Payton, 23, revealed Saturday that his hamstring already felt tight heading into Friday night’s loss to the Brooklyn Nets in Brooklyn but tried to play through the discomfort. Payton said his hamstring “locked up” when he elevated for a layup.
“I’m still blessed, you know what I’m saying?” Payton said about 90 minutes before the Magic tipped off against the Cavaliers. “There’s been a lot of worse injuries in the season so far, so I’m blessed that I’ll be able to come back and not miss a lot of time.”
Even though it’s early in the season, Payton’s injury occurred at a delicate time for the Magic, who are coming off five consecutive awful seasons and want a quick start in 2017-18. The team exited training camp with some positivity, and that momentum built when they won their season opener over the Miami Heat.
But, suddenly, the Magic have encountered some adversity.
Aaron Gordon, the team’s 22-year-old starting power forward, also sat out Saturday’s game after he didn’t play Friday night due to a left-ankle injury suffered during the season opener.
“I’m just quickly getting better,” Gordon said Saturday night. “Day by day, I feel much, much better. The strength is coming back. That’s the biggest thing I was lacking. It was overstretched and weak, so it doesn’t give me any explosion off of it. I’m starting to get my explosion back, and I’ll be good.”
Gordon indicated he might be able to play when the Magic host the Nets on Tuesday.
“It’s super-frustrating,” Gordon said. “I know I can help this team win and really want to be a leader for this team, so sitting out is not fun. It’s frustrating, but I’ve got to be patient. I truly believe we’re going to have a longer season this year. We’re going to go into the playoffs and we’re going to have a playoff run. So I’ve got to just make sure that I’m ready for the long haul for the duration of a playoff run.”
Gordon and Payton did not reach new contract deals with the Magic before the Oct. 16 extension deadline set forth in the collective bargaining agreement, so they are on track to become restricted free agents in July. They would be taking risks if they return from their injuries too soon. Having their current injuries linger could make them less effective on the court and could dampen their performance, which, in turn, could limit the demand for their services in the offseason free-agent market.
Of course, it wouldn’t help the team, either, if they rush back too soon and aggravate their existing injuries.
There’s no question the team is worse off without Gordon and Payton, but how much worse off ?
The Magic entered the season hoping their bench would be improved following the summertime acquistions of Arron Afflalo, Jonathan Isaac, Shelvin Mack, Jonathon Simmons and Marreese Speights.
But Gordon’s and Payton’s absences have stretched the bench thin, and the bench struggled against the Nets. Brooklyn’s reserves outscored Orlando’s reserves 64-34.
Payton hadn’t missed a regular-season game since March 18, 2016.
“It’s super-tough,” Payton said. “Obviously, I love being out there, being able to help my teammates. It’s tough not to be able to be out there and help them. It’s just tough.”