Izaiyah Nelson is listed day-to-day with a left ankle injury after Orlando announced he will have surgery to repair a fracture in the ankle. The Magic expect him back to basketball activities in three to four months, sidelining him for the start of training camp and preseason.
What happened
Orlando placed Nelson on the injury report as day-to-day on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 4:32 a.m. ET, with a left ankle and leg issue and no previous status listed. The team announced Monday that Nelson will undergo surgery to repair a fracture in the left ankle. The Magic's report puts his expected return to basketball activities at three to four months, which projects to around Nov. 1, 2026.
What it means for the Magic
Orlando is 0-0 with the 2026-27 season not yet underway, and its next game on the schedule is at the Grizzlies on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 8 p.m. ET. Nelson has no season line logged yet, so the rotation minutes he would have chased fall to the players already carrying the heaviest workload: Paolo Banchero, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Anthony Black, Wendell Carter Jr., Jalen Suggs, Tristan da Silva and Jevon Carter. There are no regular-season games yet to compare a record with or without him.
What to watch
The Magic's next injury report will show whether Nelson's recovery timeline holds. His expected return to basketball activities is projected for around Nov. 1, 2026, which is not a game date but a return-to-activity target. Orlando also has Jonathan Isaac (left knee) and Franz Wagner (right calf) listed day-to-day, so the team's injury report is one to track heading into the opener at Memphis.
Is Izaiyah Nelson playing at the Grizzlies on Oct. 7?
No. Nelson is set for surgery to repair a fractured left ankle and is not expected back for the Magic's game at Memphis on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
When will Izaiyah Nelson be back?
The Magic's injury report lists his expected return to basketball activities as three to four months out, which projects to around Nov. 1, 2026. No specific game for his season debut has been announced.