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Denton: Nelson Sits Out With Sprained Foot

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

By John Denton Nov. 29, 2013

ORLANDO – Orlando Magic veteran point guard Jameer Nelson did not play on Friday night because of the sprained foot that he aggravated on Wednesday, and the timetable for his return is uncertain.

Nelson said that the injury actually occurred on Tuesday in Atlanta and then he made the injury worse by playing on it Wednesday night. In Wednesday’s second quarter, Nelson perfectly fed center Nikola Vucevic for a dunk, but immediately began hobbling around the court. After a foul, Nelson limped to the bench and did not return in the 105-94 defeat of the Philadelphia 76ers.

``I just twisted it a certain way, but it was bothering me in the Atlanta game,’’ said Nelson, who didn’t need a walking boot or brace on the foot. ``I didn’t say anything and just iced it. I played through it and kind of tweaked it in the first quarter early on (on Wednesday). And in the second quarter, that’s when I felt the sprain.’’

Nelson said he went through X-rays and a MRI and neither showed bone breaks or structural damage. Nelson said the foot felt steadily better on Thursday and Friday. He said he will be accompanying the team on the six-game, 12-day trip that starts on Sunday.

``Yeah, I think so (it’s showing improvement). I think the main thing is continue to get treatment, see how my body responds and take it day to day,’’ Nelson said. ``I’m walking on my own two (feet) and I’m able to get around and do things. So I’m fortunate that it’s not something serious. I just have to listen to the training staff and get the treatment that they want me to have and do the proper things.’’

With Nelson out, rookie Victor Oladipo made his sixth consecutive start Friday night – but his first at point guard. The Spurs were also without their starting point guard, all-star Tony Parker, on Friday night. E’Twaun Moore started at shooting guard on Friday alongside of Oladipo.

Nelson, who is only the second player in franchise history to play 10 seasons in a Magic uniform, entered Friday having played in all 15 of the Magic’s games. While his scoring had dipped (11.7 points per game), he ranked tied for 16th in assists (6.1 assists per game).

Nelson has struggled with injuries each of the past two seasons, playing 57 (of 66 games) in 2011-12 and just 56 (of 82) in 2012-13. Nelson, 31, had hamstring, Achilles, forearm, knee and ankle injuries last season.

``It’s not anything (big),’’ Nelson said of this foot injury. ``The part of my foot that I sprained, I sprained it in that (Atlanta game on Tuesday) and I just kept playing on it.’’

Oladipo has had a stellar start to his NBA career so far, ranking second among NBA rookies in scoring (13.1 ppg.), second in field goal percentage (41.9 percent), steals (1.80), third in assists (3.6) and seventh in rebounding (3.9). The rookie has picked up his play of late, scoring 18 points in wins against Atlanta and Philadelphia. Also, he scored a career-best 20 points last Saturday in Miami against the Heat.

Oladipo said he will seek out Nelson for advice and the Magic’s longest-tenured player said he will be a willing helper.

``I’ve been doing it throughout the course of the year and I’ve just got to stay on him about certain things,’’ Nelson said of his advice to Oladipo. ``He has a ton of questions and he feels like I have all of the answers. So I give him as many answers as I can. We’re going to be here together and we have to work together.’’

 

 

 

 

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