Orlando Magic head coach Steve Clifford said rookie Cole Anthony practiced on Tuesday and could play on Wednesday versus the Washington Wizards.
Anthony has not played since suffering a non-displaced fracture of the right first rib on Feb. 9. He began doing more shooting and dribbling drills and eventually progressed to some contact before returning to practice on Tuesday with the team.
Clifford said on March 27 that Anthony could be ready to return to play once the team wrapped up their five-game West Coast road trip that concluded on Sunday. The team will now see how Anthony feels following practice before determining his availability versus the Wizards.
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Anthony will return to the starting lineup once he is cleared to play, but will join a different team than when he last played.
Of course, the team, in separate moves, traded Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier while acquiring R.J. Hampton, Gary Harris, Otto Porter Jr. and Wendell Carter Jr. Anthony will now be tasked with adjusting to his new teammates while acting as the primary ballhandler.
Anthony, through 25 games played, is averaging 11 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.8 assists this season.
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