Suns at Magic
The Orlando Magic had a feel-good opening performance under new coach Jacque Vaughn on Friday but also lost starting small forward Hedo Turkoglu for a month with a broken left hand. Turkoglu underwent surgery Saturday and the Magic will be extremely thin at his position when they host the Phoenix Suns on Sunday. “We’ll have to make do,” Vaughn said. “It could be (extra) minutes or different combinations on the floor. So we’ll address it and deal with it.”
Phoenix defeated Detroit 92-89 on Friday as Marcin Gortat had 16 points and 16 rebounds and Goran Dragic also had a double-double with 15 points and 10 assists. Dragic’s ball-handling abilities will be vitally important to the Suns as they move on from the Steve Nash era. Orlando can relate as it adjusts to playing without the traded Dwight Howard. Glen Davis (29 points) and J.J. Redick (21) were the offensive stars of the Magic's season-opening 102-89 win over Denver.
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Arizona (Phoenix), Fox Sports Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE SUNS (1-1): Gortat’s career has flourished since Orlando shipped him to Phoenix a third of the way into the 2010-11 season. Unleashed from being Howard’s caddy, Gortat seized the opportunity the Suns presented and has developed into a solid center who averaged 15.4 points and 10.0 rebounds last season. He is now one of the longer-tenured players on the rebuilt Suns. “We started to learn each other and what we like to do,” Gortat said after the win over Detroit.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (1-0): Redick was terrific in 35 minutes off the bench in Orlando’s opener and also had six assists without committing a single turnover. Vaughn toyed with making Redick a starter but likes the idea of having a strong scorer coming off the bench. “It’s a role that I think he’s really good at,” Vaughn said. “Until I see differently, I like that role for him.” Jameer Nelson and offseason acquisition Arron Afflalo form the Magic’s starting backcourt.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Orlando won the lone meeting last season and has emerged victorious in five of its last six games against Phoenix.
2. Suns forward Luis Scola had 13 points and nine rebounds against Detroit after becoming the 11th player in franchise history to notch a double-double in his club debut. He had 15 points and 11 boards against Golden State on Wednesday.
3. The Magic will again be without post player Gustavo Ayon (thumb) and forward Al Harrington (knee).