"The Orlando Magic will be without one injured starter when they face the Atlanta Hawks tonight at Amway Center.

Following his team's shootaround Monday morning, Orlando Coach Stan Van Gundy said point guard Jameer Nelson will not play against the Hawks, but Vince Carter will be in the starting lineup.

Nelson, who has a sprained left ankle, did some straight-ahead running and shooting Monday. Van Gundy said there's a "hope" that the point guard will return for Wednesday's game against Utah but added it's "more realistic" that Nelson will play Friday against Toronto.

"It feels a lot better," Nelson said. "I've just got to do what the training staff tells me. It's an ankle injury, so I'm not able to do much on it to test it out the last few days other than the stuff they have me doing. I haven't done anything on the court other than just spot shooting, but doing that, it feels good. I probably can't tell you how it really feels until I really start running and pounding on it."

Carter strained his right hip flexor Saturday, but he'll be in the Magic's starting lineup tonight alongside point guard Chris Duhon, small forward Rashard Lewis, power forward Ryan Anderson and center Dwight Howard.

"I'm fine," Carter said. "Ready to go.""