Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo will make his season debut after doctors cleared him to play for the first time since suffering a facial fracture in late October, the team announced. The second-year guard will return to the court when the 3-6 Magic host the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday.
Victor Oladipo will return from injury for Magic against Bucks
The second-year guard will make his season debut against the Milwaukee Bucks after suffering a facial fracture before the season.
Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Oladipo, who averaged 14 points, four rebounds and four assists last season, began practicing with his teammates this week and has been adjusting to wearing a protective mask. He told The Orlando Sentinel that he's not worried about taking contact to his face because the mask is made of "bulletproof" material.
Oladipo about his mask: "People have been hitting me a few times, and I’ve been asking them if they're OK."
— Josh Robbins (@JoshuaBRobbins) November 14, 2014 Oladipo suffered a knee injury in early October and was expected to miss the beginning of preseason before his facial fractures suffered in a Magic practice kept him out of the lineup through the first nine games of the regular season. There’s rust to be shaken off, for sure.
The return adds another dimension to the Magic's backcourt, which has been manned by Frenchman Evan Fournier and rookie point guard Elfrid Payton. Fournier, who was picked up this summer in a trade with the Denver Nuggets, has been a pleasant surprise by averaging 18.2 points for the Magic through nine games. Orlando has also thrown veterans Luke Ridnour, Willie Green and Ben Gordon into the mix, but Oladipo is expected to quickly step in with a good deal of playing time available to him.
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