The Orlando Magic’s plan for Markelle Fultz as he works his way back into the fold became clearer ahead of Friday’s 103-97 road win over the Toronto Raptors.
The Magic ruled out Fultz for Friday because of left knee injury management. He returned after recovering from his anterior cruciate ligament tear in Monday’s win over the Indiana Pacers. Orlando was also without starting big man Wendell Carter Jr. because of a non-COVID-19 illness.
Despite being without two key players, the Magic (16-48) picked up their third win in four games since the All-Star break after holding the Raptors (34-29) to 39.1% shooting.
Orlando, which shot 37.9% (36 of 95) was led by Cole Anthony, who had team highs of 15 points and 12 rebounds to go with five assists. Jalen Suggs had 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds. The Magic had seven players score 10-plus points.
The Raptors, who were led by Paskal Siakim’s 34 points (13 of 20) and 14 rebounds, were without starting forward OG Anunoby (right hand ring finger fracture) and All-Star guard Fred VanVleet (right knee soreness).
The Magic’s victory over Toronto was their first since Feb. 24, 2019 after losing the previous eight matchups between the teams.
Orlando is easing Fultz into back-to-back situations — common around the league for players returning from major injuries — because he was sidelined for more than a year after tearing his ACL in January 2021. He’s expected to be available for Saturday’s road game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley didn’t rule out the possibility of Fultz playing in both games of a back-to-back later in the season. Orlando has two more sets of back-to-backs:
— vs. the Phoenix Suns Tuesday and at the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday.
— vs. the Golden State Warriors March 22 and at the Oklahoma City Thunder March 23.
“We’re going to take it game by game, just to see how he recovers through each game,” Mosley said. “That’s the way we’re going to look at it moving forward.”
The Magic have taken a meticulous approach with Fultz as he worked his way back, not putting a timeline on his return ahead of Monday and keeping him in the 15-16-minute range in the two games he’s played against the Pacers. Fultz averaged 10.5 points (76.9% shooting) and four assists in 15.5 minutes against Indiana.
Carter was added to the injury report Friday morning before being ruled out an hour before tipoff. He was a nominee for the Eastern Conference Player of the Month that was awarded to Chicago Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan Thursday. Carter averaged 18.5 points (61.5% shooting), 10.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in February.
Chuma Okeke (10 points and a career-high 11 rebounds) started on Friday night in Carter’s place alongside Anthony, Suggs, Franz Wagner and Mo Bamba.
“He’s feeling a little bit better, but he’s not going to go,” Mosley said of Carter. “He’s still struggling a little bit.”
Bol Bol (January right foot surgery), Jonathan Isaac (recovery from August 2020 left ACL tear) and Moe Wagner (left rib contusion) remained sidelined.
