ORLANDO, FLA- As stated by the Orlando Magic’s Front Office and NBA Insider Keith Smith, Guard Jalen Suggs suffered a right ankle sprain in Friday’s 98-108 loss to the Atlanta Hawks and is out indefinitely, an MRI confirmed on Saturday.
During Friday’s game against Atlanta, Suggs hurt his right ankle midway through the third quarter. Suggs needed assistance as he limped to the locker room and didn’t return to the court. In Orlando’s 109-113 season-opening loss to Detroit, Suggs recorded 25 minutes, 21 points, and three assists while shooting 8-11 (72.7%) from the field and 4-6 (66.7%) from three-point range.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first injury Suggs has suffered during his young NBA career. After an MRI confirmed that Suggs had a Fractured Thumb in the 2021 NBA Summer League and twisted his ankle in the regular season, Suggs missed 34 games in his rookie season. It’s also worth noting that these injuries fueled a sporadic rookie season for Suggs, averaging just 11.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 4.4 APG, and 1.2 SPG on 36.1/21.4/77.3% shooting splits. During the 2022 NBA preseason, Suggs also sustained a Left Knee Capsule Sprain and Bone Bruise against Dallas.
For Orlando, this is the third major injury the Magic have seen occur to their backcourt. For context, Combo Guard Markelle Fultz is sidelined for 4-8 weeks due to a Fracture in his big left toe, while Sharpshooter Gary Harris tore his Meniscus during offseason workouts. Without Suggs, Fultz, and Harris, Orlando will rely heavily on third-year guards Cole Anthony and R.J. Hampton, along with Veteran wing Terrence Ross to fill in place of the aforementioned guards.
In reference to Suggs’ latest injury, it’s obvious that the 2022-2023 NBA Season has not gone to plan for Orlando, who is 0-4 and 15th place in the Eastern Conference entering their road game against Cleveland (1-1, 6th in Eastern Conference) on October 26th.
Fortunately for the Magic, 2022 No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero has been electric through his first four NBA games, averaging 34.0 MPG, 22.8 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, and 1.5 BPG while shooting 42.6% from the field, 18.8% from three-point range, and 81.1% from the free-throw line. Furthermore, Banchero became the first teenager in NBA history to score at least 20 points in each of his first four games, adding to his case as the 2022-2023 NBA Rookie of the Year.
Meanwhile, Orlando has seen steady outputs from their other healthy players so far this season. For example, Forward Wendell Carter Jr. has had a nice start to the 2022-2023 season, averaging 14.3 PPG, 10.5 RPG, and 2.8 APG on 45.5% shooting from the field. Likewise, 2021-2022 All-Rookie First Team Selection Franz Wagner remains one of Orlando’s brightest young stars, averaging 15.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.8 APG, and 1.3 SPG while shooting 41.7% from the field. Finally, Anthony has played well in relief of Suggs’, Fultz’s, and Harris’ absence, averaging 17.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, and 4.0 APG on 46.5/40.0/63.6% shooting splits.
INJURY UPDATE:@OrlandoMagic guard Jalen Suggs suffered a sprained right ankle during the third quarter tonight at Atlanta.
Suggs will not return to tonight’s game.#MagicTogether
— Orlando Magic PR (@Magic_PR) October 22, 2022