Gary Harris returned to the Magic‘s starting lineup Friday night for a 100-97 home loss against the Clippers after the veteran guard missed the last two games due to a right plantar fascia strain.
One of four players on Orlando‘s roster with postseason experience along with forward Joe Ingles, guard Markelle Fultz and forward Jonathan Isaac, Harris’ availability this season has showcased just how important he is for coach Jamahl Mosley’s squad.
For starters, the Magic (42-31) had entered Friday’s contest 31-15 when Harris has been able to play but 11-15 without him.
The Magic have lost three in a row.
Orlando’s starting lineup of Harris (8 points), guard Jalen Suggs (15 points) and forwards Franz Wagner (13 points) and Paolo Banchero (23 points and 8 rebounds) plus center Wendell Carter Jr. (2 points) had been 11-0 ahead of the second meeting with Los Angeles (46-27).
“We’re all just trying to get a rhythm,” Harris said at Friday’s shootaround about the undefeated starting lineup. “Some games are better than others. We’re just trying to figure out [how to] be playing our best ball going into the postseason.
“[We’re] continuing to stay together whether we have injuries or not, trying to figure out how to gel on the court and play the right way.”
Magic backup big man Moe Wagner had 12 points and 9 rebounds against the Clippers, who got a game-high 29 points from Kawhi Leonard.
As Harris returned to the court, Fultz missed his 39th game of the season due to injury. The Magic guard, who previously sat out 27 games (Nov. 6, Nov. 11-Jan. 5) due to left knee tendinitis, wasn’t available on the first night of a back-to-back because of left knee injury maintenance.
Having Fultz sit the first night of a back-to-back is how the Magic have handled his availability since the All-Star break. Before the league break, Fultz had typically not played on the second night of back-to-backs after he returned from injury.
Orlando has a quick turnaround when it hosts the Grizzles on Saturday.
Memphis (24-49) is one of four teams in the Magic’s next five opponents that holds a below-.500 record, which should allow Orlando to string together some wins.
The group is 25-6 against teams with a losing record this season.
Regardless of the strength of the opponent, the Magic are aware that every game matters in the final push for playoff positioning. Orlando entered Friday’s contest fifth in the East, 1.5 games back of No. 4 Cleveland and 2 games ahead of No. 6 Indiana.
“Even though we might have dropped these past two games, I feel like everyone’s focused,” Harris said. “We’re playing playoff basketball. Pretty much every team we’re playing against is playing for something, whether it’s positioning, seeding or whatever it is.
“It’s been fun seeing everybody being up for the challenge.”
Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]
