There was a subdued feeling emanating from the Orlando Magic after their 108-98 Friday loss to the Atlanta Hawks — and never simply because it was their second loss to open the season.
Second-year guard Jalen Suggs left within the third quarter with an ankle damage, with the Magic saying he sprained it.
Ahead of Orlando’s home-opening 126-120 loss to the Boston Celtics at Amway Center, the Magic stated Suggs underwent an MRI Saturday confirming a sprained proper ankle, including his return to play will rely upon how he responds to rehabilitation and therapy.
He sat for Saturday’s sport, becoming a member of Markelle Fultz (fractured left huge toe), Gary Harris (left knee rehabilitation), Jonathan Isaac (left knee rehabilitation) and Moe Wagner (sprained proper midfoot).
“I’m relieved it’s an ankle sprain and that’s it,” coach Jamahl Mosley stated forward of Saturday’s sport. “Obviously, I feel for him because of the work he’s continued to put in and the young man he is. He’s going to be resilient about it. Is it good in this moment? No, but he always finds a way to use it to good.”
Without Suggs, the Magic as soon as once more competed in a down-to-the-wire loss Friday.
Orlando and Boston battled tightly, altering leads 3 times and tying the sport 3 times, together with at 111 with 4:23 after a Wendell Carter Jr. putback dunk.
From there, the Celtics took over, happening a 10-2 run capped off by a Jayson Tatum step-back, pull-up 3 to provide Boston a 121-113 benefit with 1:29 remaining. Orlando minimize the deficit to 124-120 with 13.4 seconds left after a Terrence Ross 3 however the Celtics held on for the win.
Ross, who’s moved into the beginning lineup, led the Magic (0-3) with 29 factors on 11-of-16 taking pictures from the sector and 5-of-8 on 3s.
Paolo Banchero, who made his regular-season dwelling debut, had 23 factors (6-of-19, 2-of-7 on 3s) 5 rebounds, and three assists whereas Franz Wagner completed with 18 factors (8-of-17, 2-of-6 on 3s), 6 rebounds and a couple of assists.
Banchero grew to become the fourth No. 1 choose in NBA historical past to attain 20-plus in his first three video games.
All 5 Magic starters scored at the very least 14 factors.
The Celtics (3-0) have been led by Jayson Tatum’s 40 factors (14-of-21, 4-of-10) and eight rebounds, and Derrick White’s 27 factors (10-of-17, 5-of-9 on 3s), 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
Friday’s attendance of 19,299 was the fifth-largest crowd within the Magic’s historical past.
Suggs appeared to have twisted the ankle on the drive earlier than touchdown awkwardly on his proper leg after being fouled.
He took 2 free throws and Wendell Carter Jr. dedicated a take foul on Clint Capela so Cole Anthony might sub in for Suggs, who initially went to the bench however hopped again to the locker room with group trainers earlier than being dominated out within the fourth.
Suggs isn’t too far faraway from a left knee damage — a capsule sprain and bone bruise — he suffered throughout the Magic’s preseason win over the Dallas Mavericks on Oct. 7.
He missed the ultimate two preseason video games however was cleared for the regular-season-opening loss to the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, scoring 21 factors (8 of 11 taking pictures, 4 of 6 on 3s) in 25 minutes earlier than fouling out within the fourth.
Suggs, who primarily guarded Trae Young whereas on the ground, was a major motive why the All-Star struggled in Friday’s first half (2 factors — 0-for-7, together with 0-for-5 on 3s with 8 assists and three turnovers). He additionally was lively within the passing lanes, grabbing 3 steals in 16 minutes. Young, who began to seek out his rhythm as a scorer after Suggs’ exit, completed with 25 factors (7 of 24, together with 4 of 11 on 3s), 13 assists and 6 turnovers.
“It’s tough seeing all the work he did to get back from the knee sprain,” rookie Paolo Banchero stated. “To have that happen, you just feel for him. He’s a competitor. He wants to be out there. He was playing well, too. To see him go down like that, you never want to see that.”
Resiliency has been mandatory for Suggs, particularly with the damage misfortunes he’s had since being drafted with the No. 5 choose in 2021.
Suggs had an up-and-down rookie season partially due to accidents that restricted him to 48 video games.
He was sidelined for 20 video games from early December by means of mid-January after fracturing his proper thumb and handled accidents to his proper ankle that sidelined him for 13 of the ultimate 18 video games. Suggs had surgical procedure to deal with a stress fracture in his proper ankle — the identical one he injured Friday — early within the offseason, limiting how a lot he might take part in basketball actions.
In the long term, the Magic are assured he’ll be OK however displayed empathy with him getting injured once more.
“You never want to see anyone get injured, especially your brother who you work with every day,” Anthony stated. “Definitely sucks just knowing how hard the kid works. I wish he didn’t get hurt. I know when he’s back, he’ll be ready. He’ll be good.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter at @khobi_price.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com