Magic guard Anthony Black has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Timberwolves with a right ankle injury, one day after he was listed as day-to-day. Orlando lost its opener without him and will again play without one of its main backcourt players.
What happened
Anthony Black has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Timberwolves. The 22-year-old guard was listed as out on the injury report at 4:39 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 22, with a right ankle injury. He had been listed as day-to-day the day before. His status has gone back and forth this week. He was out on Tuesday, Oct. 20, day-to-day on Wednesday and out again on Thursday. The ankle has been on the report since Sept. 30. The report's comment reads: "Black (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Timberwolves."
What it means for the Magic
Orlando hosts Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. ET. The Magic are 0-1, sit 10th in the standings and lost their opener without Black. Last season he played 64 games and averaged 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 29.8 minutes. In the opener, Desmond Bane played 33.1 minutes and scored 18 points, and Jalen Suggs played 32.1 minutes and scored 6. Jase Richardson played 14.3 minutes off the bench. Paolo Banchero carried the load with 35 points in 41.1 minutes. Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr. scored 22 points each.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether anything changes before Friday's tip. The report lists an expected return date of Oct. 25, which would come after the Minnesota game. That date is a target, not a guarantee, and his status has already changed three times this week. Orlando is also without Jonathan Isaac (left knee), Noah Penda (right hamstring) and Izaiyah Nelson (left ankle). All three are listed as out.
Is Anthony Black playing vs the Timberwolves on Friday, Oct. 23?
No. The injury report lists him as out with a right ankle injury and says he has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Timberwolves.
When will Anthony Black be back?
The injury report lists an expected return date of Oct. 25. No firmer timeline has been announced, and his status has changed several times this week.