Magic face Lakers with deeper lineup as newcomers see 1st action

Sunday night’s Magic-at-Lakers game was not completed in time for this edition. Read the late game story on our website.

The Orlando Magic rolled out their new roster Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Magic coach Steve Clifford planned to use newcomers Wendell Carter Jr., R.J. Hampton and Otto Porter Jr. in the playing rotations for the contest at Staples Center.

Orlando was prepared to start Michael Carter-Williams, Dwayne Bacon, Khem Birch, Chuma Okeke and James Ennis, with Carter, Hampton, Porter, Mo Bamba and Chasson Randle available off the bench.

Shooting guard Terrence Ross missed his seventh straight game because of a sore right knee.

Clifford’s plan was to work Hampton, Porter and Carter into playing rotations with the Magic players who already were on the roster to maximize organization.

“Tonight you’re going to see it’s a mis-mash because we just can’t run enough offense with different

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guys on the floor, so we’re having to sub in a way tonight [where] there won’t be something that’s sustainable,” Clifford said. “It wouldn’t be fair for instance to put R.J. on the floor with Otto and Wendell and say go ahead and run on offense.”

Clifford, however, said the veteran Porter would be a player he could utilize for “24 to 26 minutes” because of his NBA experience — much the way Portland used newly-acquired guard Norman Powell in his first game Friday in Orlando.

“He’s been around so much in play, he’s gonna pick things up quickly,” Clifford said of Porter, who’s a 40% career 3-point shooter.

Clifford planned to get Hampton and Carter comfortable in a certain number of minutes as a way to have them play well and then build from there. He said Carter and Bamba would split time at the backup center spot.