Magic's Oladipo out with back injury, Fournier returns vs. Suns
The Orlando Magic have fallen back in the Eastern Conference playoff race, but they'll have a great chance to pick up a bit of ground Friday night when they host the hapless Phoenix Suns.
They still have their work cut out for them, though, as second-leading scorer Victor Oladipo will sit out the contest with a lower-back contusion.
Oladipo was slow to get off the block this season, but since the start of 2016, he's averaged 17.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.7 steals, with a .446/.388/.844 shooting split. The Magic have been more than three points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor.
His absence will be offset some by the return of swingman Evan Fournier, who missed the past three games with a sore right wrist. Orlando went 2-1 in those games, though one of the wins came against the Philadelphia 76ers. For the season, Fournier's averaging 14.2 points, with a team-leading 40.4-percent mark from 3-point range.
The Magic go into Friday night's action sitting 3.5 games back of the Detroit Pistons for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.