Vucevic might play tonight
Orlando Magic center
who fractured a bone in his left hand Dec. 23 and underwent surgery Dec. 26, might return to game action as early as tonight’s game against the Atlanta Hawks at Amway Center.
On their official injury report released Wednesday afternoon, Magic officials listed Vucevic as questionable to play against the Hawks.
Vucevic started doing full-contact work last week and started practicing with teammates Friday.
Forward will not play against the Hawks, team officials said.
Gordon strained his left hip flexor Jan. 27 and has missed Orlando’s last five games.
Team officials swingman
as questionable to play against the Hawks. Simmons sprained his right ankle Monday but still scored a career-high 34 points Tuesday in the Magic’s 116-98 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. listed Magic coach said. “In terms of years in the league, he’s relatively inexperienced and carrying a much bigger load this year than he ever has in his career. So you’re going to be weighed down a little bit by that, and you have to adjust and you have to get through it. That’s part of growing and developing: being able to carry that load the way he has of late for us.”
Because of his sore ankle, Simmons’ availability to play against the Cavaliers was determined about 90 minutes before the national anthem.
Yet once the game started, he displayed his trademark speed and explosiveness. He often drove down the center of the lane as he made 12 of his 17 shot attempts.
“I was trying not to think about [my ankle] all night,” Simmons said. “I knew it was going to be a little sore afterwards, but I just tried not to think about it. I just thought about the game and thought about these guys [on the Magic]. We work hard. We just haven’t got payoffs, as you can see, throughout the season. But these guys work hard, and we’re trying to get better.”
The Magic’s comeback from 21 points down midway through the second quarter ranks as the sixthlargest comeback by the Magic in a victory.
The franchise recorded largest comeback on Nov. 8, 1989, in Cleveland.
The Magic trailed by 25 points in that game but beat the Cavs 117-110.