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O'Quinn Makes Long-Awaited Return

Josh Cohen
Digital News Manager

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By John DentonNov. 26, 2014

ORLANDO – A turned ankle that came simply from accidentally stepping onto the foot of another player morphed into a nightmarish injury that sidelined Orlando Magic power forward Kyle O’Quinn for 15 consecutive games.

On Wednesday night, the nightmare finally came to an end for O’Quinn.

The versatile power forward/center was put on the active list on Wednesday night, and not a minute too soon for an Orlando team that has missed his defensive toughness and shot-blocking abilities over the past three weeks.

O’Quinn, who worked tirelessly all summer to grow his game offensively and add more muscle, started the season-opener in New Orleans but had to leave the game when he came down on the foot of a foe and he violently rolled his ankle. O’Quinn had the ankle re-tapped, he re-entered the fray and actually finished the game while hobbling slightly.

X-rays after that game proved negative, but O’Quinn had trouble getting the ankle fully pain-free over the next three weeks. As a result, he went from trying to return, to wearing a protective boot, to slowly working his way back. O’Quinn missed the next 15 games before finally being active for Wednesday’s game against the Golden State Warriors.

``I’m thankful for that,’’ joked Magic coach Jacque Vaughn, tying in O’Quinn’s return to the holiday season. ``It’s good to see him on the active list, which means he’s improving, which means there’s a chance he could get into the game. … He gives us a physicality and another rim-protector. His ability as far as leading our team in blocking shots or taking a charge, he’ll give us a presence in the paint. That was an area that we were pretty good at last year and statistically we aren’t as good as we want to be right now.’’

VIC’S DECISION-MAKING: Missing six weeks because of a knee injury and a facial fracture sapped Magic point guard Victor Oladipo of his conditioning and applied a heavy layer of rust onto his jump shot that he’s worked hard to knock off of late.

The extended period of time away from basketball also did quite a number on Oladipo’s instincts on the basketball court – something that has been exposed even more so with him manning the starting point guard slot for the Magic over the past seven games. Going into Friday’s game, Oladipo was shooting just 41.3 percent from the floor and 23.5 percent from 3-point range. His assist total was at 3.1 a game, compared to 3.0 turnovers a night.

Oladipo said his reactions have been slow to come around after missing so much of training camp and the preseason. Admittedly, he has struggled with walking the fine line of being aggressive himself while also trying to get other players in the Magic offense sufficient shots.

``It’s something that I’m getting used to doing and something that I’ve got to get better at, but at the end of the day I’m going to continue working hard at it,’’ Oladipo said. ``I’m looking forward to overcoming this. When I’m passive it’s hard for me to play well. So I’m going to keep being aggressive. That’s what I have to do.’’

GIVING ON THANKSGIVING: In what has become one of the best traditions of the season, the Magic serve a Thanksgiving breakfast to more than 700 men, women and children at the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida on Thursday. It is the 22nd year that the Magic will spend the Thanksgiving holiday giving back to the less fortunate.

Guard Willie Green will be joined by Magic Executive VP/Chief Revenue Officer Charlie Freeman, Senior VP Pat Williams, GM Rob Hennigan, Vaughn, Community Ambassadors Nick Anderson and Bo Outlaw and the Magic dancers for the event.

The residents of the homeless coalition will be served breakfast compliments of Levy Restaurants. The Magic will also provide a carnival for children that will include face painting, bounce house games, arts and crafts, skee ball and a photo booth. All of the adults and children will be treated to free haircuts by Paul Mitchell The School, while 104.5 The Beat will provide the music for the event.