Noah Penda lasted only two minutes before leaving the Orlando Magic's preseason finale against the Miami Heat with a right hamstring injury. He headed to the locker room late in the first quarter after appearing to limp while chasing the ball out of bounds.
The injury lands at the worst possible time for Orlando, which is searching for stability before Wednesday's season opener against the Atlanta Hawks. Penda has already dealt with the same hamstring during training camp, and the Magic were hoping he could build on a larger role in his second season in the league.
What happened after he went down showed how quickly the game shifted. Jamal Cain replaced Penda and missed the two free throws awarded to Orlando after the foul, a small sequence that underlined how little margin there is this close to the opener. If Penda cannot go by Wednesday, the Magic will have to adjust again before the first game counts.
There is still no clear read on how severe the injury is, only the reality that a right hamstring has already interrupted his camp and now threatens to do it again. Orlando is also hoping Anthony Black can return from an ankle sprain, after he sat out the entire preseason, which makes Penda's status even more important for the rotation. For now, the safest read is that Penda's availability for Wednesday is in doubt, and that is the part Orlando can least afford.
Penda said injuries are part of the league's grind, noting that it is an 82-game season and that consistency in work and routine matters if a player wants to have a strong year. That message fits the moment as much as the setback does. The Magic want him healthy for the long haul, but the first question is whether he can be ready when the season starts.
