The Orlando Magic will kick off the NBA season restart on Friday against the Brooklyn Nets. While Markelle Fultz and Jonathan Isaac logged in some minutes in Monday's scrimmage, head coach Steve Clifford is still taking some precautionary measures.
Per Josh Robbins of The Athletic, Clifford revealed that he's still monitoring the health of both Fultz and Isaac. To recall, Isaac is coming off a knee injury which forced him to miss all his team's games since January. Fultz, meanwhile, is still trying to get in game-shape after his late arrival in the bubble. Isaac and Fultz played seven and nine minutes respectively in Monday's scrimmage.
When asked if Markelle Fultz will start Friday and if Jonathan Isaac will play Friday, Steve Clifford did not provide a definitive answer. He did say he'd like to play both players and added the team will continue to monitor how they respond to practices.
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) July 29, 2020
Clifford pointed out that Isaac's status solely depends on how he's feeling.
Clifford regarding Jonathan Isaac's availability for Friday's game: "I feel like he's going to be able to play as of right now. The thing with him or with the other guys is just how do they feel tomorrow?" https://t.co/DRrK15n8wg
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) July 29, 2020
Isaac and Fultz are two of the key players in the Magic's relatively young roster. In 32 games this season, Isaac averaged 12.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.6 steals, and 2.4 blocks. His career-high stands at 24 points in their loss to the Toronto Raptors on Oct. 28. But his true impact remains as a defensive presence and rim-protector.
Fultz, for his part, is slowly and surely proving why he was the first overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. After a shoulder injury hampered his first two years in the league, Fultz has been putting some good work with the Magic. In 64 games (59 starts), the 22-year-old averaged 12.1 points, 5.2 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 28.3 minutes. Analysts were amazed by his athleticism and aggressiveness. He has also continued to make significant strides from the shoulder injury that marred his jump shot.
The Magic currently hold the eighth spot with a 30-25 record. If all goes well, the young team will qualify for the postseason — an experience that will mightily help their resolve in the coming years.
Follow Us
Subscribe