The Orlando Magic experienced a huge scare during the first quarter of their 96-86 Game 2 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers when Jalen Suggs went down with a knee injury in the first quarter after making contact with Donovan Mitchell.
The former Gonzaga Bulldog was carried to the locker room because he couldn’t put any weight on his leg. But to his credit, Jalen Suggs returned after halftime and even sparked a late run for the Orlando Magic.
Jalen Suggs finished the game with nine points, six rebounds, and five assists in 29 minutes of action, and after the game, the 22-year-old combo guard allayed any fears that he will miss Game 3 on Thursday.
“I’m good. I was able to finish. It’ll be cool to get back home and get treatment for a couple of days. We play Thursday at 7 pm, and I’ll be ready,” said Suggs via the Associated Press.
“It takes the wind out of your team when our head of the snake on defense goes down,” Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said. “He was in quite a bit of pain when he returned, so we’ll evaluate him when we get back home.”
Orlando Magic lacking firepower
While Suggs’ confirmation ahead of Game 3 is certainly good news for the Orlando Magic, the fact remains that they don’t stand a chance against the Cleveland Cavaliers if they can’t convert enough shots on the offensive end.
In their first two games in the first round, the Orlando Magic never scored above 86 points and never shot at least 40 percent from the field and 30 percent from three-point range.
“It’s just the nature of the sport,” Suggs said. “You can do everything right, and the shots don’t fall. We’re getting in there, but we’re not making them. Naturally, there’s a tendency to get frustrated.”
Paolo Banchero has been the brightest spot for the Orlando Magic, averaging 22.5 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists.