Magic's Cole Anthony Scratched vs. Pelicans with Left Big Toe Strain; Cory Joseph Starts

Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony has been scratched from Thursday night's game and will not play versus the New Orleans Pelicans.

Anthony is dealing with a left big toe strain, missing his second contest in the matter of a nine days with the injury. He did not play on March 4 versus Toronto with the same injury.

He was a partial participant in Wednesday's practice session, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said, but he was not listed on the team's injury report at any point throughout the day.

"I mean, you're never walking into these last games fully healthy," Mosley told reporters in New Orleans on Wednesday. "Everybody's got nicks, bruises and bumps ... So understanding are you injured? Or are you hurt? I think these guys are playing through a bunch of bumps and bruises, but I think they're able to continue to go through.

"Cole was not able to go all the way through [Wednesday's] practice, but again, his ability just to do some thing son the floor is going to be good just as we continue to ramp this thing up down this back stretch."

Reserve point guard Cory Joseph will start in his place, joining usual starters Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr.

It will be the second start for Joseph this season and his 36th total appearance. The year-14 veteran is averaging 2.1 points, 0.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists in 7.9 minutes a game. He was also the fill-in starter for Anthony in that March 4 contest versus Toronto, in which he scored eight points and dished five assists in 26 minutes of playing time.

Anthony is missing his seventh game this season, having made 22 starts in 60 previous appearances this year. He's averaging 9.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists, taking over Orlando's starting one-guard role in the absence of Jalen Suggs following his season-ending knee surgery.

Orlando and New Orleans tip off at 8 p.m. ET on FanDuel Sports Network Florida.

It is the first night of a back-to-back. Orlando plays at Minnesota on Friday night, again at 8 p.m. ET.