The Orlando MagicĀ are currently having a tough time since they’ve lost one more of their star players, Montenegro center Nikola Vucevic. The player suffered a broken bone in his left finger according to ESPN‘s sources, and will likely miss six to eight weeks of basketball. Vucevic was hurt in Orlando’s heavy defeat against the Washington Wizards. Around 5 minutes mark in the game’s first quarter, Vucevic ended up being tangled with Washington center Ian Mahinmi, which lead to a broken finger.
“I tried to get out,” – said Vucevic about the play. “As I went away I think he might [have] pulled my finger. I’m not sure. I heard it pop when it happened. I’ve never been part of a team that had so many injuries, and most of them are for quite some time, so it’s very unfortunate. And it happens to me tonight. It sucks. It looks like we can’t catch a break from injuries at all.“
Nikola Vucevic started his NBA career with the Philadelphia 76ers who drafted him with the 16th overall pick in 2011 NBA draft. He played only 51 games for the 76ers before he was traded to the Magic. In Orlando, Vucevic immediately assumed the position of a starter and never looked back. He currently averages 14.6 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2 assists per game.
Vucevic’s injury now means that Orlando Magic has only one healthy starter, point guard Elfrid Payton. Previously the Magic lost their two top scorers in Aaron Gordon (18.3 PPG) and Evan Fournier (18.3 PPG), who missed four and eight games respectively. Terrence Ross is also out indefinitely.
All the injuries diminished Magic’s good start of the season, and the team finds itself on the eight games losing streak, with 11-23 record.
