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Gustavo Ayón starts for Magic against Jazz

Coming off his first double-double of the season, Ayón replaced Andrew Nicholson as Orlando's starting power forward.

Gustavo Ayón
Gustavo Ayón
Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic made another change to their starting lineup Sunday night against the Utah Jazz as Magic coach Jacque Vaughn benched Andrew Nicholson in favor of Gustavo Ayón at power forward. Nicholson, a rookie from St. Bonaventure, had replaced the injured Glen Davis against the Toronto Raptors on Friday and tallied six points and four rebounds.

Ayón played magnificently off Orlando's bench on Friday and closed the game at center as the Magic rallied to within a point of Toronto, only to fall short. Ayón's 12 points and 13 boards represented season-highs for the Mexican-born big man.

Ayón, 27, started 24 games for the New Orleans Hornets in his rookie season, averaging 8.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, two assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks.

In center Al Jefferson and power forward Paul Millsap, Utah boasts one of the league's largest and most formidable front lines. Pairing Ayón and starting center Nikola Vučević gives Orlando a physical front to counter the Jazz's.

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