Elfrid Payton out against Cavaliers

The Magic have announced that point guard Elrid Payton will not play Saturday night against the Cleveland Cavaliers because of a strained left hamstring he suffered in Orlando’s 126-121 loss to the the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

Either D.J. Augustin or Shelvin Mack is expexted to start in his place for the Magic, who face a diffucult task facing the Cavs in the second game of a back-to-back.

Aaron Gordon, who missed Friday’s game against the Nets with a sore left ankle, is questionable, according to the Magic. Rookie Jonathan Isaac started in his place on Friday.

The Magic struggled in their half-court set and played sloppy while pushing the tempo without Payton orchestrating against the Nets. They were able to compensate offensively without two key players thanks in part to an otherworldly performance by Nikola Vucevic, who scored a career-high 41 points and hit six three-pointers.

The Cavaliers could also be without their starting point guard. Oft-injured Derrick Rose suffered a sprained ankle in the Cavs’ 116-97 win over the Bucks on Friday. Jose Calderon is expected to start in his place.