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Magic’s starting center Wendell Carter Jr. fractures hand, will miss time

Orlando Magic v New Orleans Pelicans

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 10: Wendell Carter Jr. #34 of the Orlando Magic reacts against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half of a preseason game at the Smoothie King Center on October 10, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

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When Wendell Carter Jr. is on the court, the Magic defense this season has been 4.7 points per 100 possessions better. The starting center does a lot of the little things that allows Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner to thrive.

Orlando will miss that over the coming weeks because Carter will be out with a fractured hand, the team announced.

The third metacarpal is the bone that connects the wrist to the middle finger. While the team has released no details on a recovery timeline, the Cleveland Clinic suggests at least three weeks in a cast. This is Carter’s non-shooting hand, so the timeline for his return is unclear but it is undoubtedly weeks and likely closer to a month.

The injury occurred in the final seconds of the Magic’s win over the Jazz Thursday when Carter went for a rebound and fell on his left hand.

Moritz Wagner likely steps into the starting role, while both Jonathan Isaac and Goga Bitadze will probably get chances off the bench as well.

Carter struggled on offense to start the season, averaging 9.4 points a game on 37.8% shooting, but adding 8.6 rebounds and solid defense.

The Magic are battling other injuries as well. Starting point guard Markelle Fultz did not play Thursday due to swelling around his left knee, while Gary Harris is out with a strained right groin. No timeline on the return for either of those players was made public.