Big man Isaac sits out to rest injured ankle
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Jonathan Isaac did not dress for Orlando’s game at San Antonio on Sunday night after rolling his ankle during the Magic’s 120-95 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
Isaac, who missed all but 27 games last season due to ankle issues and also sat out two preseason games due to a different ankle sprain, was injured Friday when he came down on the size-20 foot of Clippers 7-foot-3 big man Boban Marjanovic.
Magic coach Steve Clifford said he was unsure of Isaac’s status moving forward, with Orlando playing back-to-back games at the Spurs on Sunday and at home against the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers tonight for the second game of a back-to-back.
“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow, day-to-day,” Clifford said. “All I know is … he’s been doing treatment, but he can’t play.”
Iwundu starts
Second-year forward/ guard Wes Iwundu was inserted in to the Magic’s starting lineup against the Spurs in place of Isaac. Jonathon Simmons
also saw minutes at the position after missing Friday’s game with a sore wrist, a previous injury he aggravated after falling during the Magic’s loss to the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday.
Iwundu, who has given the Magic good minutes when needed during the first nine games, said that no matter what the level is, it’s always important to be named a starter.
He started 12 games during his rookie season last year.
“Starting is always a big deal, especially in the best basketball league in the world,” Iwundu said.
“I think starting is a bigtime accomplishment. It’s nothing to take for granted. You just gotta always go out there and play hard, and stay within yourself and do what you’ve gotta do to help the team win.”
Gordon’s deal
Aaron Gordon took only five shots Friday night in the Magic’s rather unimpressive performance in losing to the Clippers.
Clifford, however, did not solely place the responsibility on Gordon for his lack of offense.
“I have to do with some of that too. He can’t take five shots. You can take care of some of that with play calls,” Clifford said.
“He’s gotta be more involved and the early fouls were a big part of it, too. He had two fouls right away.”
Just minutes into Friday’s game, Gordon was whistled for his second personal foul, but he quickly glanced at the bench and signaled that he wanted to be left in the game, which he was.
His lack of aggressiveness, however, may have been partly due to the fouls.
“It’s combined, like what I told him; I have to help more,” Clifford said.
“His best games last year were also a result of his energy level off the ball, finding ways to get to the basket, to get open spot-ups, so some of it’s on him, too, but I gotta help him more also.”
Clifford said he didn’t necessarily think Gordon, who in eight games averaged 14 points, eight rebounds and two assists coming into San Antonio, was forcing too much to create more offense in earlier games.
“I think he’s actually done a lot better with that, in my opinion,” Clifford said.
“I think he’s focused on his defense and his rebounding, which he’s done a good job with and I think his decision making has been solid.
“He’s gotta get more than five shots. That just makes no sense to me.”