Magic rookie Aaron Gordon has a fracture in his left foot

WASHINGTON — An unwelcome pattern has emerged for the Orlando Magic already this season: Key players have missed extended periods of time because of injuries.

And, now, the team must endure an injury to rookie forward Aaron Gordon.

Gordon, the fourth pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, was diagnosed with a fractured fifth metatarsal in his left foot after Saturday night’s loss to the Washington Wizards, and he will be out indefinitely, team officials said.

It’s unclear whether Gordon will require surgery to stabilize the fracture and promote healing in the bone, league sources said. He will be evaluated by a foot specialist after the Magic return from their road trip following Monday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons in Auburn Hills, Mich.

Gordon traveled with the team to Michigan on Sunday, and he was not available to comment.

But, on Twitter, he wrote: “It’s not fatal; You know how that saying goes.”

Later, he added: “need detail from a specialist, the reality is that it’s a stress fracture. That I can’t control. But I can control my level of inner peace.”

Metatarsals are long bones in the foot, and the fifth metatarsal sits on the outside of the foot.

Fractures to that bone are not uncommon in basketball players.

Magic forward Tobias Harris fractured his right foot’s fifth metatarsal as a high-school senior during the 2010 McDonald’s All-American Game. Although the injury prevented Harris from working with USA Basketball that summer, Harris made a full recovery.

During the 2012-13 season, Glen Davis suffered a fracture to the bone known as a Jones fracture — a fracture at the base of the bone near the little toe. Davis underwent surgery shortly after the injury and then required another surgery to insert a bigger screw and receive a bone graft. Davis, who is much heavier than Gordon, has had a full recovery.

The exact nature of Gordon’s fracture is unclear.

It’s possible that he will be examined by the same foot specialist who performed Davis’ second surgery, Robert B. Anderson, who is based in Charlotte, N.C.

Gordon, who is 6 feet 9 and 225 pounds, has played in all 11 of the Magic’s games this season, often giving the team boosts off the bench with his energy, rebounding and one-on-one defense.

In 15.0 minutes per game, Gordon is averaging 5.8 points and 3.0 rebounds.

His shooting has improved since his freshman year of college at the University of Arizona. He’s made 66.7 percent of his free-throw attempts and he’s gone 4 for 8 from beyond the arc for the Magic.

The team has endured other key injuries since the beginning of October.

Power forward Channing Frye sprained a knee ligament during training camp and missed the entire preseason. Guard Victor Oladipo suffered a pair of injuries — a knee-ligament sprain and a facial fracture — that kept him out of action until only recently. Power forward and center Kyle O’Quinn sprained his left ankle during the regular-season opener, and he has missed 10 consecutive games.

It’s unclear exactly when Gordon suffered his injury.

Gordon primarily has played small forward, and his absence likely will create more playing time for Evan Fournier, Maurice Harkless and Willie Green.

Gordon turned 19 years old in mid-September, and he’s the youngest current player in the NBA. But team officials and coaches love his maturity, intelligence and toughness.

On Sunday, Gordon indicated he has plenty of support.

Referring to his parents; his older brother, who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers; and his sister, who recently graduated from Harvard and now lives in Orlando, Gordon tweeted: “My family will never let me fall back. I PROMISE #cantknockthehustle.”

Josh Robbins covers the Orlando Magic and the NBA for the Orlando Sentinel. You can reach him via e-mail at jbrobbins@tribune.com and connect with him on Facebook at facebook.com/JoshuaBRobbins. Follow him on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins.