Nikola Vučević injury: Magic center out again Saturday due to sore Achilles'

Nik Vučević will miss his second straight game Saturday when his Orlando Magic take on the Minnesota Timberwolves at Amway Center. Coach Jacque Vaughn made that announcement in his pregame meeting with the media less than two hours before tipoff.

Owing to a sore Achilles', the Magic made the third-year center a late scratch for Friday's loss against the Charlotte Bobcats, and he still doesn't feel well enough to play. Vaughn said he was buttoning his shirt with about eight minutes left before Friday's tipoff when he heard that Vučević couldn't play.

Rookie center Dewayne Dedmon will start in Vučević's place, marking the first start of his career. In 10 appearances with Orlando since signing with the club in February, the USC product has averaged 3.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks in 10 minutes per game, shooting 65 percent from the floor.

In 57 appearances, all starts, Vučević has averaged 14.2 points, 11 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.1 steals in 31.8 minutes per game. Before the Achilles' soreness began, Vučević had missed 18 games due to a sprained left ankle and a concussion.

Tipoff between the Magic and the Timberwolves is set for 7:00 PM Eastern on Fox Sports Florida.