Vet Ross eager to play again

Only a few days remain until the Orlando Magic open their preseason, and one of the players most enthusiastic to get started is a six-year NBA veteran with 411 regular-season games played on his résumé. Swingman

missed 57 games last season with a right-knee injury. Although he returned to play in a pair of games during the season’s final week — important milestones, to be sure — he didn’t feel completely back in the swing of things.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like I’ve been playing in an actual NBA game,” Ross said Friday. “It’s been almost since November. It’s been awhile. So I’m just excited. I’m eager, anxious. It’s really all I can think about.”

Ross almost certainly will play when the Magic face the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night in Philadelphia.

Coach said he hasn’t yet decided how he’ll allocate playing time, but no one is likely to play more than 22 minutes.

Practice opportunity: The Magic will hold their annual free open-to-thepublic practice late Tuesday afternoon at Amway Center.

The arena’s doors are scheduled to open at 5 p.m., with practice beginning at 6 p.m. on the main court. Several players will hold a Q&A with fans from 6:45-7 p.m.

Parking in the Geico Garage will be free. Tickets are required and can be downloaded from orlandomagic.com/practice.