Turkoglu Fractures Hand

By Parvez Fatteh, Founder of http://sportingummah.com, sports@muslimobserver.com

Orlando Magic basketball star Hedo Turkoglu underwent surgery early this week for a left hand fracture. Doctors are projecting that Turkoglu will miss a minimum of four weeks, something that would result in him missing 14 Magic games, but Turkoglu told the press, “Hopefully, it won’t be that long.”

The Turkish forward broke the fifth metacarpal bone in his left hand in the Magic home-opener against Denver on Friday, and he underwent surgery that required five screws and a metal plate being inserted into the outside of his hand. And this injury came just eight months after Turkoglu fractured a bone near his eye socket and needed another metal plate and more pins to repair the damage. “It started right here (at the face) and now it’s going down. I really hope that will be the last one,’’ Turkoglu said with a laugh.

Turkoglu was injured in the Magic’s home-opener last Friday against the Denver Nuggets when he took a swipe at a ball with his hand in the third quarter. “After I fouled him, I just thought like it was a hit. Jameer [Nelson] passed me the ball …… but I couldn’t catch it,” … “I was upset. It’s after the first game, on opening night, he said. “It felt like something was wrong. When we went inside and took the X-ray it was obvious that it was broken.’’

Turkoglu is hoping that some intensive rehabilitation will allow him to keep the time away to a minimum. He hopes to do as much cardiovascular work as possible while away so that he’s in shape upon his return. “Right now it’s still swollen, so we’ll have to see how the rehab goes and go from there,’’ Turkoglu said. “We’re trying to do a lot of movement with it so the hand won’t get stiff. And there are some (therapies) for blood movement. I’ll still be able to do conditioning on the bike and lower-body exercises, but I can’t do a lot of running because they don’t want me to move my hand for two weeks until it’s healed 100 percent. I’ll be doing a lot of hand exercises, squeezing stuff and opening up the hand to hopefully decrease the swelling.’’

“I was upset that it happened in the first game and Opening Night. But it’s just part of the job and we have to face these kinds of injuries,’’ Turkoglu said. “I’m just happy for the guys who are doing a great job out there. As long as we share the ball, every night someone different will step up and have a good night. One night it’s been J.J. (Redick) and before it was (Glen) Big Baby (Davis). In our offense, everybody will feel the momentum and have good nights. I’m just really happy for them.’’

Turkoglu’s team-mates were sad to see the turn of events. “That’s my brother from another mother, man,” said point guard Jameer Nelson. “I’ve been with Turk so long. It’s upsetting to see that. He’ll be all right. He’s a trooper and we’ll pick him up.”

14-46