Gordon may return tonight
SAN ANTONIO — Placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol several days ago, power forward
might be available to play when the Orlando Magic face the San Antonio Spurs tonight at AT&T Center.
On Monday, Gordon participated in a full-contact practice, which is one of the protocol’s final steps.
“I feel better,” Gordon said afterward.
Gordon suffered from concussion symptoms during and after the Magic’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on March 7. The team placed him in the league’s concussion protocol the next day.
If Gordon suffered a concussion during the Lakers game, it would’ve been his third concussion over the last 23 months. He missed three games late in the 2015-16 season due to a concussion and two games this past December due to a concussion.
But Gordon, who is on track to become a restricted free agent in July, said he was merely suffering from a migraine during the game against the Lakers.
The NBA’s concussion protocol is designed to protect players by preventing them from returning too soon. In the protocol, players are required to pass a series of progressively more strenuous tests and remain symptom-free during and after each test.
Before a player can be cleared to return, his team’s medical staff first must consult with an independent neurologist.
Gordon is the Magic’s leading scorer, averaging 18.3 points per game.
He said he felt a bit winded Monday because he hadn’t practiced or played for four days.
“These are the best players in the world,” Gordon said. “If you miss a couple of days, your rhythm is going to be a little bit off. But you get it back within a day or so.” Magic swingman
is hopeful — but not sure — that he’ll play again this season.
Ross has been out since Nov. 29 when he sprained his right knee’s MCL and suffered a non-displaced fracture of his right tibial plateau. He had healed fully, and as the All-Star break approached it seemed he was on track to return soon.
But then he suffered a setback: a bone bruise.
Asked if he’s confident he’ll play before the Magic end their season on April 11, Ross answered, “Hopefully. I hope so. It’s all about how I feel. It’s a little tough. Some days it feels good, and then some days it kind of flares up. So I’m just in that stage where I’m just trying to keep it all healthy.
“With a bruise, it just takes time, and sometimes it gets a little sore. You don’t want it to get any worse, so sometimes I’ve just got to stay off of it.”
On Monday, coach
said Ross is “still a ways away” from playing.
“He’s doing some individual work,” Vogel said. “That’s all he can do.”
Ross began the season as the Magic’s starting shooting guard, but he was largely ineffective, often getting lost among the rest of the starting five. So Vogel moved Ross to a sixth-man role on Nov. 27.
One game got hurt. later, Ross