Magic's Vucevic expects to return from hand injury after All-Star break

Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic is circling Feb. 22 on his calendar as a return date from a fractured left hand he suffered just days before Christmas.

"I expect to be back against the Knicks, so I'll stay in Orlando during the (All-Star) break and keep working on my game," Vucevic said Monday, according to The Orlando Sentinel's Josh Robbins. "Then we'll have two or three good practices before we play the Knicks, so I think it'll be good for me to use that extra time to work more on my game."

The 27-year-old big man has been sidelined for the past 22 contests, with Orlando going 7-15 during that span. That includes a seven-game losing streak from Dec. 30 through Jan. 12, although Aaron Gordon, Terrence Ross, and Evan Fournier were also ailing at the time.

Vucevic initially injured his hand against the Washington Wizards on Dec. 23, and later underwent surgery to repair a fracture to the metacarpal bone of his left index finger. That procedure had a recovery time of approximately six-to-eight weeks.

The Magic host the visiting Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night for their final game before All-Star weekend.

In his sixth season with the franchise, Vucevic is averaging 17.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.1 blocks, and a steal on 49.1 percent shooting across 34 outings.