Tuesday night, the Magic became the first team to hold a lead against the Knicks in the fourth quarter of any game this season. But Orlando's poor execution in the fourth period sealed its fifth consecutive defeat.
Jameer Nelson will miss his sixth straight game due to a right hamstring strain, Orlando Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said before Tuesday's tipoff against the undefeated New York Knicks. "If you talk to (Nelson) he'd say he could play tonight," Vaughn said, according to John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com. "But you're talking to me."
Orlando initially labeled Nelson a game-time decision for Tuesday's contest.
Nelson played 35 minutes in Orlando's season-opening victory against the Denver Nuggets, but has not played since. Orlando is 1-5 with second-year man E`Twaun Moore starting at the point, though Moore has exceeded expectations in Nelson's place. A scrap-heap free-agent signing of Orlando's Moore is averaging 13.5 points, four rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game while manning both guard positions.
Orlando won't play again until Friday, giving the nine-year veteran Nelson an additional two days to recover from the injury.
