Orlando Magic All-Star center Nikola Vucevic will not play on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets.
Vucevic is dealing with a stomach virus. Khem Birch will start at center for Orlando.
.@OrlandoMagic all-star center Nikola Vucevic, who is suffering from a stomach virus, is OUT tonight vs. @hornets. It’s just the 2nd game Vucevic has missed all season. Khem Birch will start at center.
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) April 10, 2019
The Magic have already clinched a playoff spot. They enter Wednesday in the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings.
This is only the second game Nikola Vucevic will miss this season. He's been a monster all year for the Magic, who are making the postseason for the first time since 2012 — the final season of the Dwight Howard era.
In 80 games this season, Vucevic is averaging 20.8 points, 12.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest while shooting 51.8 percent from the field, 36.4 percent from beyond the arc and 78.9 percent from the free-throw line. The 28-year-old has recorded 60 double-doubles and one triple-double.
Vucevic becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. It was one of his goals to lead the Magic to the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how much money the big man commands on the open market.
The Hornets will be the desperate team on Wednesday. They have to win and hope for the Detroit Pistons to lose to make the postseason.
The Magic have the same record as the Brooklyn Nets, who are in the sixth spot in the East.
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