INQUIRER Sports

ORLANDO – Vince Carter, the biggest off-season addition for reigning NBA Eastern Conference champion Orlando, was benched for Wednesday's home game against Phoenix with a sprained left ankle.

The 32-year-old guard joined the Magic in a deal with New Jersey that sent Rafer Alston, Courtney Lee and Tony Battie to the Nets in exchange for Carter and forward Ryan Anderson.

The Magic had some good news on the personnel front Wednesday as forward Mickael Pietrus returned to the lineup. The Frenchman had missed Orlando's past two games with flu symptoms