Starting shooting guard Vince Carter is expected to return to the Orlando Magic's lineup tomorrow night against the Detroit Pistons, Sam Gardner reports, after missing Orlando's last three games due to a sprained left knee suffered last Monday against the San Antonio Spurs. More from Gardner:
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said Carter was not limited in Tuesday's practice, and Carter said he also worked out individually at the Amway Center on Orlando’s off day Sunday.
Carter's scoring just 13.9 points per game, good for third on the team, this season, yet he's putting those points on the board efficiently, shooting 48.9 percent from the floor and 42.2 percent from three-point range.
In Carter's absence, J.J. Redick has flourished. The fifth-year reserve has posted 14.3 points in 35 minutes starting in Carter's stead, and the starting unit of him, Jameer Nelson, Quentin Richardson, Rashard Lewis, and Dwight Howard has scored 119.2 points per 100 possessions, an elite figure, accoring to basketball-value.com. The same four players, with Carter, score 107.8 points per 100 possessions. The key distinction between the two lineups is that the Magic defend far better with Carter on the floor as opposed to Redick, which makes sense, given Carter's advantage in size and strength.