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The Orlando Magic tok the Amway Center practice court Friday morning to prepare for that night's game against the playoff-bound Washington Wizards. Here's a look at the stories that developed Friday morning.
No Nik this nite
Magic coach Jacque Vaughn said that Nik Vučević will not play against the Wizards.
"He's still rehabbing," said Vaughn. "He did a little bit more on the court yesterday."
Friday's game marks the fourth straight Vučević has missed due to a sore left Achilles' tendon. Vaughn said the seven-footer will travel with the Magic for their final roadtrip of the season in the hopes of returning sometime during the team's final three games of the season.
Vučević has averaged 14.2 points and 11 rebounds per game in his second season in pinstripes. The rookie Dewayne Dedmon has started in his place in Orlando's last two outings, averaging three points, 7.5 rebounds, one steal, and one block on 38.5 percent shooting from the floor.
Post time
Arron Afflalo, the Magic's leading scorer, said he could envision himself using his low-post game to his advantage Friday against Wizards guard Bradley Beal.
"It depends," said Afflalo, who's averaging 18.6 points per game. "It depends on what's best for the team, what matchups are best for the team. I kinda judge that by weight and height, so I feel like I can post him up."
The Wizards list Beal, a second-year shooting guard, at 6-foot-5 and 207 pounds, though that figure might overstate Beal's size. Orlando, meanwhile, lists Afflalo at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds.
Even if Afflalo can't overpower Beal in the post for easy baskets, he might be able to draw extra defensive attention from Washington, freeing his teammates for cuts to the hoop.