NBA: Positive Nik Vucevic eyes rapid return

NBA Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic

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Nik Vucevic hopes he will not have to sit out many more Orlando Magic matches with the knee injury he suffered last week.

The 25-year-old Montenegrin has missed the recent games against the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers because of a bone bruise in his right knee.

Vucevic hasn’t done any on-court work since he suffered the injury and has been treated with electrical stimulation and ice.

“It’s getting better,” he said. “It’s not as sore and painful as it was. It’s annoying that you can’t be out there with your team-mates, especially when it’s a close game. But I will try to help my team in any way I can while I’m out by talking to them, telling them stuff that I see.”

Vucevic moved to Orlando from Philadelphia in 2012 as part of a trade that saw Magic legend Dwight Howard leave. He has been a regular in the Orlando side in the last three seasons and signed a lucrative four-year contract just over 12 months ago.

Meanwhile, Magic coach Scott Skiles admits he is unsure what his strongest side is. Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, Evan Fournier, Tobias Harris and Dewayne Dedmon all started the recent match against the Raptors but Skiles used Shabazz Napier, CJ Watson, Mario Hezonja, Aaron Gordon and Jason Smith later in the game.

“I don’t think we have the type of team that’s going to have a set rotation,” Skiles said. “There isn’t much difference between our starters and our bench players until people emerge.”

Meanwhile, the 76ers are 3.60 to win their next match against Chicago, while the Bulls are available at 1.29 to come out on top.

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