Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black left the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves after sustaining an injury. He appeared to hurt his lower back or hip in the first quarter and headed to the locker room.
Black’s Recent Injury History
Black recently returned from a quad injury that sidelined him for two games earlier in the week. The Magic will want to assess the extent of the new injury to ensure he is fit to play.
It is not yet known if Black will return to the game. His absence would be a significant blow to the Magic, particularly with Franz Wagner already out due to a high ankle sprain.
Mosley’s Comments on Black’s Physicality
Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley had previously noted the physical toll Black has endured throughout the season. Mosley mentioned on March 1 that Black had been dealing with bumps and bruises for quite some time. He felt the previous game had taken its toll.
Mosley had previously stated that Black’s absence impacts the team heavily. However, he emphasised the team’s ‘next man up’ mentality, saying that whoever gets the opportunity will be ready to play.
Da Silva Steps Up
Tristan da Silva replaced Black in the game. Da Silva has been performing well for the Magic recently. In the team’s last game against the Dallas Mavericks, he scored a team-high 19 points, shooting a perfect 7 of 7 from the floor and making four 3-pointers.
Mosley praised da Silva’s performance against the Mavericks. He highlighted his perfect shooting record and gave a shout out to the bench. ‘Oh, I mean he didn’t miss a shot. I think that’s a pretty daggone [sic] good lift, and I think I’ve got to give a shout out to our bench,’ Mosley said.
The Magic’s Depth Will Be Tested
The Magic will need da Silva and other players to step up if Black is unable to return. With the team playing the first night of a back-to-back, depth will be crucial if they want to win each game on the quick road trip.
Fans can watch the game between the Magic and Wolves on FanDuel Sports Network or stream it on Amazon Prime Video.