Aaron Gordon's right-foot bone bruise will prevent him from playing Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers and could force him to withdraw from the All-Star dunk contest on Feb. 18 if the injury doesn't heal as quickly as Gordon and team officials hope it will heal.
Asked if he's concerned that the bone bruise will keep him out of the dunk contest, Gordon answered, "Maybe. I'm not sure. It's day-to-day. If I can get back and play one of these games before the All-Star break, I'll probably go ahead and just do the dunk contest, too."
After Thursday, the Magic will play three more games before the All-Star break.
Gordon has played in all of Orlando's games so far this season. On Tuesday, however, he sat out the second half of a loss to the Houston Rockets because of pain on the underside of his foot. On Wednesday, an MRI revealed he has a bone bruise.
Gordon is the Magic's best perimeter defender, and coach Frank Vogel asks Gordon to guard opponents' best wing scorers _ players such as the Rockets' James Harden, the Indiana Pacers' Paul George and the Toronto Raptors' DeMar DeRozan.
"A next-man-up mentality," Vogel said. "Whoever gets his minutes, they've got to come in and draw those assignments and do it by committee."
Jeff Green and Mario Hezonja likely will receive more playing time in Gordon's absence.
Green has returned to the team after he missed Tuesday's game to attend the birth of his first child. It's possible that Green will start Thursday at small forward in Gordon's place.
The Magic also could play two point guards simultaneously and move Evan Fournier to small forward at times.
Gordon gained national fame for his dazzling performance in last year's dunk contest. He finished as the controversial runner-up to defending champion Zach LaVine.
This year, Gordon is scheduled to compete against the Phoenix Suns' Derrick Jones Jr., the Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan and the Indiana Pacers' Glenn Robinson III at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
Gordon is unable to practice for the contest because of his injury.
Vogel was asked Thursday if he's spoken with Gordon about whether Gordon will compete at All-Star Weekend.
"Obviously, we'll be smart," Vogel said. "If it's something where that would be a negative to our ability to win games, then he wouldn't do it. But I don't think that's going to be the case. We don't feel it's that serious of an injury. I don't think it's going to impact him (for the contest)."
Gordon said it will be difficult to watch his teammates play Thursday against the Sixers.
"I don't like to miss games," Gordon said. "I never like to miss games. Never in my life have I (liked that). From a young boy to right now, I just don't like sitting on the side and seeing my team out there battling without me. However, we have very talented individuals on this team, so I have full confidence in the players _ my teammates that are going to step up and make big plays and get a win."
