Ross returns to lineup in familiar role

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

The Orlando Magic got a big piece of their offense back Tuesday night.

Shooting guard Terrence Ross was set to rejoin the Magic lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers after missing seven straight games because of soreness in his right knee. Because he hasn’t played since March 14, Ross planned to come off the bench in his normal role as the team’s top reserve. Magic coach Steve Clifford went with the starting lineup of Chuma Okeke, James Ennis, Khem Birch, Dwayne Bacon and Michael Carter-Williams for the second straight game.

Ross finished with 28 points in the team’s final game before the All-Star break — a 115-112 loss to the Hawks — then missed the first two contests with a sore left knee after play resumed. He returned to score a season-high 31 points in a 102-97 loss to the Heat, only to be sidelined with a sore right knee.

Ross always has drawn plenty of attention from opposing defenses, but the trades of Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon likely will increase that attention.

Whether Ross eventually joins the starting rotation or even becomes a bigger part of the offense remains to be seen, Clifford said. With four new players — and varied levels of experience — now on the roster, Clifford’s focus is on organizing his team into playing groups that work the best.

“It’s just going to play out. I’m just not sure,” Clifford said before tipoff Tuesday. “This week is so much about evaluating, getting a feel for guys, who can play with who … he could very well start. He’s just so comfortable coming off the bench in that role. We’re going to have to see.”

Clifford hopes to get newly acquired shooting guard Gary Harris (right adductor strain) back in the next 10 days to two weeks and said rookie point guard Cole Anthony (rib fracture) could return as early as next week.

Orlando, meanwhile, will continue its five-game road trip against Western Conference opponents Thursday in New Orleans against the Pelicans. The game, which tips off at 8 p.m., will mark the first Magic broadcast on the rebranded Bally Sports Florida, formerly Fox Sports Florida.

Bally Sports Florida and Bally Sports Sun (formerly Fox Sports Sun) will launch Wednesday with a full slate of live regional programming scheduled Thursday.