For Orlando Magic second-year guard Jalen Suggs, the previous couple of weeks — particularly the earlier three days — have been encouraging.
Suggs, sidelined since exiting the Nov. 25 dwelling loss to the Philadelphia 76ers with proper ankle soreness, has taken important steps ahead in returning to the courtroom.
For the time since sitting with the harm, he absolutely participated in practices Monday and Tuesday forward of Wednesday’s dwelling recreation vs. the Oklahoma City Thunder. Monday’s observe concerned extra 5-on-5 scrimmaging and live-action drills whereas Tuesday was a much less intense session.
“I’ve had the biggest smile on my face these past two weeks, just being able to do more every day, ramping up,” Suggs mentioned after Tuesday’s observe, his first time talking with reporters since lacking time with the harm. “Going from the weight room to actual on-court workouts to 1s, to 3s to now playing 5s. All of it’s been great.”
Suggs wasn’t obtainable vs. the Thunder, however coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned after Wednesday morning’s shootaround that “there’s a possibility Jalen might get in” for Thursday’s dwelling recreation vs. the Memphis Grizzlies, the second night time of a back-to-back.
“Jalen is obviously going to be further along than [Jonathan Isaac],” Mosley mentioned. “Jalen responded better. We won’t look at him [Wednesday]. JI’s going to be sometime down the road. Have to get some more practices under [Isaac’s] belt to get comfortable with these guys and group.”
Since the matchup vs. the Grizzlies is a second recreation of a back-to-back, the Magic don’t should file their harm report back to the league till 1 p.m. Thursday.
When requested Tuesday if there’s a timeframe he’s targetting to return by, Suggs responded “ASAP [as soon as possible]. I feel great.”
Suggs’ absence on Wednesday was the nineteenth consecutive recreation he’s sat due to the harm.
He mentioned the soreness began to flare up main as much as the house video games vs. the 76ers on Nov. 25 and Nov. 27. Suggs performed 19 minutes within the first recreation vs. Philadelphia and sat the second for his first absence.
“That last Philly game, we had talked about to go, not to go, seeing what we could play through,” Suggs mentioned. “And after that, came to the decision ‘let’s just take care of it’ and kind of dead the issue.”
Suggs additionally sat 5 video games (Oct. 22-30) earlier within the season due to a sprained proper ankle.
He performed in November’s first 12 video games earlier than sitting due to ankle soreness.
Suggs had surgical procedure to handle a stress fracture in his proper ankle — the identical ankle he’s sidelined due to now — early within the offseason, limiting how a lot he may take part in basketball actions.
“We did the surgery to take care of all the problems,” Suggs mentioned. “It simply sort of ended up coming again, so ensuring the problems are put to relaxation and it’s not one thing we have now to fret about anymore earlier than it turns into an even bigger challenge.
“Things don’t always work out how you want it to. Now that it came back, taking our time, making sure we’re deliberate with it, and making sure when I do come back, there’s no soreness.”
The Magic, who entered Wednesday 13-24, went 8-7 throughout a December by which they gained six consecutive video games from Dec. 7-18 and gained eight of 10 video games from Dec. 7-Dec. 23.
They closed out December on a three-game dropping streak, dropping video games to the Los Angeles Lakers (Dec. 27), Detroit Pistons (Dec. 28) and Washington Wizards (Dec. 30).
“It was an excellent December,” Suggs mentioned. “Obviously a bit powerful coming to the top with the suspensions and we dropped the final couple, however we’re taking part in wonderful as a crew and we’re very selfless.
“But also when we were on that run, we had a swagger and confidence. Going into this new year, getting everybody back after being banged up, getting that groove back and just coming into it ready to rock. We’re ready to make this run and do what we have to do. We’ve shown that it’s possible already. That standard is set. Now it’s about matching that every day.”
Suggs, the No. 5 decide within the 2021 draft, had an up-and-down rookie season partly due to accidents that restricted him to 48 video games. The similar has to date been the case this season.
He’s averaged 12.4 factors (41.9% capturing, 29.4% on 3s), 5.4 assists and three.3 rebounds in 28.9 minutes (14 video games).
Suggs was sidelined for 20 video games from early December 2021 by means of mid-January 2022 after fracturing his proper thumb and handled accidents to his proper ankle that sidelined him for 13 of the ultimate 18 video games final season.
Being away from the ground for one more prolonged stretch has examined his persistence, however he understands the method.
“It’s definitely been difficult,” Suggs mentioned. “Especially not with the ability to go on the street with the fellows. When we have been taking part in effectively and issues have been going nice, I wished to be part of that. When you’re not in a position to be part of that and should see it from a distance, you recognize they nonetheless love and take care of you however simply being away positively is hard.
“Definitely been a test of patience, but every time [I’ve been sidelined], I’ve grown as a player and a person. Sometimes you have to take these things for what they are, learn from them, look at it glass half-full and keep it pushing.”
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