The Orlando Magic are hoping for another successful trip across the border as they prepare to face the host Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
The teams first met on Jan. 3, when Orlando won 106-97 despite losing guard Jalen Suggs in the second quarter due to a back strain. Suggs has remained sidelined since that game and has already been ruled out for Tuesday.
Along with Suggs, the Magic were without Goga Bitadze (concussion protocol), Jett Howard (ankle sprain), Gary Harris (hamstring strain) and Moritz Wagner (torn left ACL) in their 113-100 home loss to the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.
Bitadze is out on Tuesday, while Howard and Harris are questionable.
“I’d be lying to you if I said it wasn’t difficult, and it is,” Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said of having so many key players injured. “These guys are giving everything they have in these moments for what they have.”
Franz Wagner also missed Sunday’s contest for the Magic, who have lost three straight games and five of their past six. Franz Wagner is working through reconditioning to return from a torn oblique suffered on Dec. 6. He reportedly could play again within the next week.
Wendell Carter Jr. led Orlando with 16 points and 13 rebounds on Sunday. He started at center in place of Bitadze, who had 11 points and 13 rebounds in the previous game against Toronto.
“Goga’s one of a kind, man,” Carter said. “He’s definitely missed. His presence just being on that court, his intensity, his attention to detail. … He gets it.”
Paolo Banchero paces the Magic with 25.2 points per game, though he’s played only 10 contests due to a torn oblique that sidelined him for over two months. He finished with 10 points on 4-of-16 shooting against Denver.
The Raptors have not played since Friday, when they lost 130-112 to the host Milwaukee Bucks. Toronto had won its two previous games after losing five in a row.
The Raptors’ injury situation has improved, but Immanuel Quickley (hip) will miss his fourth straight game on Tuesday and Ochai Agbaji (hand) will sit out a second straight contest.
The Raptors also face the possibility of having to make trades, with guard/forward Bruce Brown considered to be among the prime candidates to be included in a deal. Brown, who is regaining form after returning from knee surgery, had 17 points off the bench on Friday.
“I’ve been in this situation the last two years, so if (getting traded) happens, it does,” said Brown, who was moved to Toronto in a trade that sent Pascal Siakam to the Indiana Pacers.
“If it doesn’t, I’m happy to be here. It’s a business, (rumors are) going to happen. I was completely shocked last year when I got traded, so this year it’s whatever.”
Kelly Olynyk, who scored 15 points as a reserve on Friday, could also be on the trading block.
“Now 12 years in this, I’ve been traded three times,” Olynyk said after practice on Sunday. “If it happens, it happens. If not, your feet are where you are, and you’re going to do your best to contribute to winning in that organization.”
RJ Barrett had 21 points and 10 assists on Friday. He leads the Raptors with 22.4 points per game. Scottie Barnes had 10 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds against Milwaukee, and Jakob Poeltl had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Orlando has won four straight games against Toronto.
–Field Level Media
