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Report: Orlando Magic G Victor Oladipo To Miss A Month

By Phil Watson

Apr 14, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) dribbles the ball against Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 14, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo (5) dribbles the ball against Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich (12) during the first quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo is expected to miss a month after surgery Saturday to repair facial fractures sustained when he hit in the face by a teammate’s elbow.

The Orlando Magic will be down a starter for a month, according to a report, as guard Victor Oladipo underwent surgery to repair facial fractures.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports reported via Twitter:

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According

to the Orlando Sentinel, Oladipo sustained facial fractures in practice Thursday when he was inadvertently hit under the right eye by a teammate’s elbow.

It’s been a rough preseason for the second-year guard, who had just gotten back on the court after spraining a knee ligament on Oct. 3.

He did not appear in any preseason games for the Magic, who were 4-4 in their warmup tilts.

Coach Jacque Vaughn tried to strike an optimistic tone.

"“From Day One, we’ve pushed all our guys towards understanding that in order for us to be successful we have to play as a team,” Vaughn said. “We’re designed as a team. We’re built as a team. And so this is the perfect opportunity where the team will continue to gather around each other and continue to support each other.”"

Oladipo, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2013 draft out of Indiana, played in 80 games as a rookie, starting 44. He averaged 13.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.6 steals in 31.1 minutes per game and shot .419/.327/.780.

He was runner-up to Michael Carter-Williams of the 76ers in the Rookie of the Year balloting last season and was a member of the first-team All-Rookie squad.

It’s a tough blow for a team looking to translate the accumulation of young talent after a couple of poor seasons (see how artfully the word “tanking” was avoided? … Oh, whoops).

The Magic have gone 20-62 and 23-59 in the two seasons since trading franchise center Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers in the summer of 2012.

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