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Jalen Suggs battles ankle injury as Magic prep for Heat
In a modern era of the NBA that’s viewed by some national pundits and former players as soft compared to the past, Magic guard Jalen Suggs is as tough as they come.
A former high school football player and second-team All-Defensive NBA selection a season ago, Suggs brings physicality and aggression on that end of the floor nightly.
But he’s still human.
So when coach Jamahl Mosley saw that Suggs didn’t immediately pop up after going down while grabbing his left ankle on the Kia Center court late in the first half against the Thunder on Thursday night, there was some concern for the fourth-year pro.
“When he went down the first time, I was extremely nervous and worried,” Mosley said of the moment that occurred with 1:38 left in the second quarter. “I wasn’t going to call the timeout but usually he bounces back up. And then I called the timeout.”
Suggs was able to slowly get to the bench on his own power before the Thunder closed out a 36-18 second quarter en route to a 105-99 win over the Magic.
The Magic guard played four minutes of the third quarter before he exited again for good.
That’s because Mosley recognized something was off with Suggs.
“As he comes out in the second [half] I just saw, there wasn’t a high pace,” the Magic coach said. “I mean, there were moments of it but I just want to make sure he’s going to be OK for the long haul.
“There’s too many things going on with this team when it comes to the injury bug that we want to make sure we’re smart when it comes down to that,” he added.
It’s hard to blame him.
Orlando — already without stars Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, who are continuing to recover from the same injury (torn right abdominal muscle) — played majority of the second half without its third best player on the court.
In addition, veteran guard Gary Harris missed his 10th straight contest with a left hamstring strain Thursday.
Beede’s Breakdown: Magic compete hard but lose another starter in loss to Thunder
Second-year guard Anthony Black filled in for Suggs as the Magic battled hard against Oklahoma City, cutting a 23-point deficit to single digits in the third quarter before the Thunder handed the Magic their third straight loss.
Fortunately for Suggs, The Athletic observed him departing Kia Center without a walking boot on his ankle after he rolled it in the first half.
Suggs (right ankle sprain) was listed as probable for Saturday’s game against Miami on Orlando’s initial injury report. Harris is considered questionable.
“He’s a tough kid,” Mosley said. “He wants to be out there and that’s what you see in him. We said it before the game — his passion, his energy, his intensity to want to be on the floor with his guys.”
After beating the Magic, the Thunder traveled south to face the Heat on Friday. Less than 24 hours later, Orlando (17-12) will host Miami at Kia Center on Saturday.
It’s first of two games against between the in-state squads in a span of five days. The Magic will also host the Heat on Thursday after defending champion Boston comes to town Monday.
The Magic defeated the Heat on opening night in Miami, but Banchero and Wagner both were healthy. Since then, Orlando has gone 15-10 without Banchero and 1-3 without the star duo available.
Magic gift shopping spree
Banchero joined Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and members of the Osceola Magic at a holiday shopping spree for 100 children from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida at a local Walmart on Friday.
Each kid received $300 gift cards courtesy of Banchero, Caldwell-Pope and Pepsi. The pair of Magic teammates and the soft drink manufacturer each donated $10,000 in gift cards that allowed them to buy whatever they wanted ahead of Christmas, as well as the first night of Hanukkah, on Wednesday.
Children who attended the shopping spree were from three local branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs — the Walt Disney World Clubhouse, Levy-Hughes Clubhouse and Bradley-Otis Clubhouse.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
Magic vs. Heat
When: 7, Saturday, Kia Center
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida
Originally Published:
Jalen Suggs battles ankle injury as Magic prep for Heat
The Orlando Magic are gearing up to face off against the Miami Heat, but they may have to do so without one of their key players. Rookie sensation Jalen Suggs is currently battling an ankle injury that has kept him sidelined for the past few games.
Suggs, who has been a standout performer for the Magic this season, suffered the injury in a recent matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. The team has been cautious with his recovery, but it remains uncertain if he will be able to suit up against the Heat.
Without Suggs in the lineup, the Magic will have to rely on other players to step up and fill the void. Cole Anthony, Franz Wagner, and Mo Bamba will likely take on larger roles in Suggs’ absence, but his presence on the court will certainly be missed.
As the Magic continue to navigate through a challenging season, they will need to show resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The matchup against the Heat will be a tough test, but Orlando is determined to fight through the obstacles and come out victorious.
Stay tuned for updates on Jalen Suggs’ status and be sure to catch the Magic as they take on the Heat in what is sure to be an intense and competitive game.
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Jalen Suggs, ankle injury, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, NBA, basketball, injury update, player news, sports injury, recovery timeline, game preview.
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