Since October 20, three of the four Magic players listed day-to-day missed the next game, against 58% of newly listed players across the league. With 91 minutes of rotation time out today, a day-to-day tag in Orlando has mostly been a reason to plan without the player.
Orlando's day-to-day tags have meant absence more often than the league's.
Our count covers every player newly listed day-to-day since October 20. Across the league, 65 of 112 missed their team's next game, or 58%, rest days included. On this club it was 3 of 4. Four listings is a small sample, and it should not be read as a rule. Jalen Suggs fits the pattern, though. He left the Knicks game with a right knee injury, was listed day-to-day on October 25 and ruled out the next day. Jonathan Isaac's status flipped several times before it settled on out with his left knee on October 24.
The lost minutes put the Magic among the league's most hurt rotations.
By our count Orlando has lost 875 minutes to injury since opening night, sixth most among the 30 clubs. Today 91 minutes are out. Paolo Banchero averages 34.7 a game, Suggs 33.4, Noah Penda 12.8 and Isaac 10.0, and Izaiyah Nelson is out as well. Banchero is listed to return on November 22, Penda and Nelson on November 18, Suggs and Isaac on November 10. For development, the cost is the reps. Jase Richardson is averaging 18.6 minutes and Anthony Black 26.3 in his three games, and both are getting run they might not have had at full strength.
The healthy core is carrying the work, and the results still lean negative.
Franz Wagner is averaging 20.8 points and 7.0 assists in 34.6 minutes over five games, though he is shooting 18.5% from three. Desmond Bane is at 17.2 points and Wendell Carter Jr. at 14.8 points and 8.6 rebounds. The team's net rating is minus 7.6 through five games, which is a small sample but not a comfortable one. The 121-114 win in Toronto on October 30 came one game after a 99-129 loss there, so the swing between outcomes has been wide. Boston, today's opponent, is 4-1 and has Devin Carter and Mitchell Robinson listed out.
Bane's 1,000th career three is the small milestone to watch.
Bane sits at 995 career threes. At his 3.2 a game this season, our projection puts him about 2 games from 1,000, which would land around Monday's home game against Washington. Washington holds sixth place at 3-3, and Orlando is half a game back of it. The next test comes on the road. The Magic play at Phoenix on November 5, at Golden State on November 7 and at Sacramento on November 10, the same day Suggs and Isaac are listed to return. Watch whether either one is upgraded before that trip ends, and whether any new day-to-day tag appears first.
How often does day-to-day mean a player misses the game for the Magic?
By our count, 3 of the 4 Magic players listed day-to-day since October 20 missed the next game. The league rate over the same period is 58%.
When will the injured Magic players return?
Suggs and Isaac are listed to return on November 10, Penda and Nelson on November 18 and Banchero on November 22. Those are estimates, and Orlando has not given firm dates.
