Payton says hip flexor is feeling ‘better’

Elfrid Payton sat out the Orlando Magic’s practice Wednesday while he nursed a strained left hip flexor.

“I feel better,” Payton said after his teammates finished their workout. “Just a slight pain. I don’t think I’m too far away [from practicing].”

Payton revealed he hurt his hip flexor late last week during a team workout at Amway Center. He said he thought he would be able to participate in the team’s first training-camp practice on Tuesday morning without a problem, but he aggravated the injury during a drill.

The injury comes at an inopportune time. After a disappointing season in which he never meshed with coach Scott Skiles, Payton has a chance to reestablish himself under new coach Frank Vogel. Missing the opening practices of training camp is less than ideal since Payton and his teammates need to learn Vogel’s offensive and defensive schemes. As the point guard, it’s also critical for Payton to acclimate to a new-look roster that returns only five other holdovers from last year’s team; the newcomers also must acclimate to him.

“It’s a little tough,” Payton said. “The biggest thing [I’m missing] is getting the reps with my teammates, but I’m able to learn from the sidelines. I’m able to pick up on things pretty fast. I’m a good visual learner.”

Third-year forward Aaron Gordon, who is recovering from a sprained ankle, sat out Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s practices. “Just to know how much I worked in the summer, I wanted to roll it over into the season,” Gordon said. “And then to just be slowed down, it’s a little frustrating. But it’s the way it goes. In basketball, there are sprained ankles. People step on each other’s feet, and their foot rolls over and you sprain your ankle. So I’m waiting to cash my chips.”

Vogel labeled Gordon’s and Payton’s status as “dayto-day.”

“It’s always critical when young guys miss time early in camp, especially with a new coach, new system,” Vogel said. “But it’s not anything we can’t overcome. They’ll be in there before we know it. We have to understand it’s a long haul. It’s a long season, and they’re going to be in there in plenty of time.”

Game tickets

The Magic announced that single-game tickets for the entire 2016-17 season will go on sale to the general public on Oct. 4 at 10 a.m.

Tickets can be purchased at Amway Center’s box office on Church St., at all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX and through the team’s website.

Chase cardholders can start to purchase tickets online today if they use their Chase credit card or debit card, team officials said.

The Magic are scheduled to open their regular season on Oct. 26 at home against the Miami Heat.