Jonathan Isaac is out for Friday's game against Minnesota with a left knee issue, a downgrade from day-to-day. The Magic will face the Timberwolves without the forward, with a return expected on Sunday, Oct. 25.
What happened
Jonathan Isaac will not play Friday against Minnesota. The injury report listed the Magic forward as out at 4:39 p.m. ET on Thursday, Oct. 22, with a left knee issue. He had been day-to-day. The report's comment read: "Isaac (knee) is out for Friday's game against Minnesota." His status has moved back and forth. He was listed day-to-day on Sept. 6, out on Oct. 20 and day-to-day again on Oct. 21, before Thursday's downgrade. No diagnosis beyond the knee has been announced.
What it means for the Magic
Orlando plays the Timberwolves at home at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 23. The Magic are 0-1, 10th in the standings, and lost their only game. Isaac has not played yet this season, so that loss came without him. Last season he played 52 games and averaged 2.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 10.0 minutes. In the game without him, Paolo Banchero played 41.1 minutes and scored 35 points. Franz Wagner played 29.5 minutes, Wendell Carter Jr. 30.9 and Tristan da Silva 28.0. Jamal Cain added 13.8 minutes off the bench. Anthony Black, Noah Penda and Izaiyah Nelson are also out.
What to watch
The injury report lists Sunday, Oct. 25, as Isaac's expected return date. Watch the next reports to see whether his status changes again before then. It has changed four times since early September and three times this week alone. Friday's game against Minnesota is next. With Black, Penda and Nelson also out, Orlando's depth stays thin, and more of the forward minutes go to Banchero, Wagner, da Silva and Cain.
Is Jonathan Isaac playing against the Timberwolves on Friday, Oct. 23?
No. The injury report lists him as out for Friday's game against Minnesota with a left knee issue.
When will Jonathan Isaac be back?
The injury report lists Sunday, Oct. 25, as his expected return date. His status has changed several times this week, so the next reports will confirm it.