Former Arizona Wildcat may not play before Orlando’s regular-season finale next week because he has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol.
Ex-Arizona Wildcat Aaron Gordon sustained a concussion during the Orlando Magic’s loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday and will not play against the Miami Heat on Friday, Magic officials said.
The injury could end Gordon’s season, because the Magic have only four games remaining and because Gordon has entered the NBA’s concussion protocol, which states a player must pass a series of tests before he is allowed to return to practice and later to game action.
Even if Gordon were to pass the tests before the Magic’s season finale on Wednesday, there would be no reason to rush him back.
It’s unclear when Gordon suffered the concussion, but the injury may have occurred with about 3 minutes remaining in the second quarter against Detroit. Magic point guard Elfrid Payton tossed a lob toward the hoop, and Gordon and teammate Jason Smith elevated for the ball. Smith’s right elbow hit Gordon on the left side of Gordon’s head.
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Gordon, 20, has started the last 37 games at power forward.
He has averaged 9.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 23.9 minutes per game this season.
Suns stun Rockets
HOUSTON — Mirza Teletovic scored 26 points off the bench, P.J. Tucker added 24 and the Phoenix Suns dealt another blow to the Houston Rockets’ dwindling playoff chances with a 124-115 victory on Thursday night.
It’s the second straight loss for the Rockets, who entered the day in ninth place in the Western Conference after a loss at Dallas on Wednesday.
The game was back and forth through the first few minutes of the fourth quarter before the Suns took over.
They scored 10 straight points, with eight coming on free throws, to take a 117-110 lead with 1:03 left and send fans streaming for the exits.
Four of those free throws came from Devin Booker and he added two more down the stretch to put it out of reach after a 3-pointer by James Harden.
Tyson Chandler added 21 points for the Suns, who snapped a NBA-high, seven-game skid.
Harden led Houston with 30 points.
It was tied at 103 midway through the fourth quarter when Archie Goodwin drove into the lane and was fouled hard by Clint Capela. He made both free throws and Tucker added a layup seconds later to put Phoenix up 107-103.
Phoenix led by four with about 5ƒ minutes left when Houston scored the next seven points, highlighted by an alley-oop dunk by Capela and helped by three turnovers by the Suns, to make it 110-107.
Rim shots
- Raptors forward
- DeMarre Carroll
- returned from right knee surgery Thursday after missing 41 games. Before getting hurt, Carroll averaged 11.7 and 4.8 rebounds in 23 games.
- Dwyane Wade
- scored 21 points, and the Heat shook off a slow first half to beat the Bulls 106-98 on Thursday night in Miami. The Heat (46-32) remain fifth in the Eastern Conference.
