Magic look to gain offensive traction

Injuries continue to hamper lineups

When it comes to injuries this season, it’s been one step forward and two steps back for the Orlando Magic.

Orlando got Aaron Gordon back in the lineup for Thursday’s contest in Miami after he missed 15 games with a sprained left ankle. That was the good news.

The bad news was Terrence Ross joined the list of injured players after he sustained a bruised knee in practice Wednesday.

Then soreness in his ankle kept Gordon out of Friday’s game in San Antonio.

In addition to not having Gordon and Ross, the Magic also played without Evan Fournier (groin strain) and James Ennis (sore left calf ) and Cole Anthony (rib fracture). The three also missed Thursday’s game against the Heat as they continue to recover from their pre-All-Star injuries.

All NBA teams experience injuries, but the Magic have 202 total player games missed to injury and illness this season — the most in the league.

Orlando (13-25) is mired in a season-worst seven-game losing streak and sits 14th in the Eastern Conference — four games out of the 10th spot that would get the Magic in a postseason play-in game.

While injuries, unfortunately, have become a dominant part of their season, the Magic won’t use them as an excuse.

“From the beginning of the season, so many guys have been in and out,” guard Dwayne Bacon said after Thursday’s 111-103 loss in Miami. “We can’t make that an excuse of why we’re not where we’re supposed to be. This is the