Anthony Avent, a reserve forward for the Orlando Magic, was knifed four times in his left arm during a weekend fight and needed 20 stitches and 20 staples to close the superficial wounds.
“There was no damage that would inhibit him as a basketball player,” Magic spokesman Alex Martins said.
Avent, in his second season with the Magic, is expected to play Wednesday against the New Jersey Nets in Orlando.
The 6-foot-9-inch player was cut early Saturday during a fight in downtown Orlando after he was seen at a nearby nightclub.
According to a police report, three men insulted Avent while he was walking alone on a street. A quarrel escalated into a fistfight, and one man charged Avent with a knife.
No one was arrested as of Sunday night, said Orlando police Lt. Joe Robinson.
After the fight, Avent drove home, then checked into Sand Lake Hospital. After an emergency-room physician tended to the wounds, team physician Rich Shurer examined Avent.
“You always worry about something like this when guys are out at night,” Orlando coach Brian Hill said. “When I first heard about it, I was originally told he was stabbed. You couldn’t describe my original feelings.”
Avent is averaging 18 minutes, 4.9 points and 5.2 rebounds a game.
