The Orlando Magic are nonetheless removed from complete, however they obtained rather a lot nearer to fielding their full roster vs. Atlanta.
With the returns of Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony Wednesday at Amway Middle, the Magic not solely had 12 gamers obtainable after having 9 in Monday’s highway loss to the Brooklyn Nets, however they obtained again two of their extra distinguished guards.
Sadly, that wasn’t sufficient for the Magic to finish their dropping streak as they fell to the Hawks 125-108 for his or her sixth consecutive loss, dropping to 5-17.
Fultz made his season debut as a starter alongside Gary Harris, Franz Wagner (22 factors, 6 rebounds and three assists), Paolo Banchero (20 factors, 5 assists) and Bol Bol (6 factors, 5 rebounds).
“I felt actually good simply having the ability to run up and down the courtroom and compete,” Fultz stated. “The whole lot felt good.”
Harris exited the sport due to proper hamstring tightness, not scoring in 17 first-half minutes.
Fultz missed the primary 21 video games after fracturing his huge left toe late within the offseason in September, which additionally compelled him to be sidelined for coaching camp and the preseason.
“I’m all the time so glad to see him again on the ground,” coach Jamahl Mosley stated of Fultz. “Each time he walks within the gymnasium, you get to see his degree of pleasure and pleasure for the sport.”
Anthony missed the final 16 video games after exiting the Oct. 26 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers with a torn proper inside indirect.
He averaged 15.5 factors, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 4 video games (30.5 minutes) earlier than his damage.
“He’s a man who can create offense on his personal and definitely play off the ball,” Hawks coach Nate McMillan stated pregame, “and provides them one other weapon coming off the bench.”
Mosley stated Fultz was on a minutes restriction of about quarter-hour whereas Anthony’s minutes restriction was round 20.
Fultz had 8 factors (3-of-8 capturing, 2 of two on FTs) and 4 assists in 17 minutes whereas Anthony fouled out with 4:07 remaining, recording 11 factors (3-of-7 capturing), 4 rebounds and a pair of assists in 24 minutes.
“I felt fairly good, particularly that second half,” stated Anthony, who had 7 factors, 4 rebounds and a pair of assists within the 13 minutes he performed within the ultimate two quarters. “Received to get going a little bit bit. It simply felt good enjoying once more.”
Guards Trae Younger (30 factors, 14 assists) and Dejounte Murray (27 factors, 6 assists) led a Hawks offense that scored 62 factors within the paint, had 14 offensive rebounds for 20 second-chance factors and scored 22 factors off the Magic’s 18 turnovers.
“The power to speak throughout the coverages,” Mosley stated about what the staff was lacking defensively. “The rebounding clearly harm us. That’s an excessive amount of. That’s simply ranges of effort and focus.”
The improved participant availability shall be useful for a Magic staff that has handled well being points all season. They’ve had at the least 5 gamers sidelined every recreation and had 121 complete participant video games missed to damage/sickness — essentially the most within the league.
The Magic have been particularly skinny at guard, with Anthony, Fultz, Harris and Jalen Suggs lacking a mixed 62 video games.
Harris missed the season’s first 15 video games whereas he recovered from a process on his left knee in late August after tearing cartilage, which additionally compelled him to overlook coaching camp.
Suggs, who was sidelined for 5 video games earlier within the season due to a sprained proper ankle, sat for the third consecutive recreation due to proper ankle soreness.
Wendell Carter Jr. (strained proper plantar fascia pressure), Jonathan Isaac (left knee damage restoration), Chuma Okeke (left knee soreness) and Mo Bamba (again spasms) additionally sat.
“It’s nice to have guards again on the ground,” Mosley stated. “A variety of it'll be a rhythm for these guys. As a result of they’re again within the lineup, doesn’t essentially imply it’s going to fall again into the puzzle piece instantly. They’ve obtained to develop a chemistry, how they play with the fellows within the lineup — we’re going to should hold taking a look at that.”
This text first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Electronic mail Khobi Value at khprice@orlandosentinel.com or comply with him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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