The season of Jalen Suggs and the Orlando Magic came close to suffering a serious blow in the form of an injury. On a fast-break layup, Suggs felt his knee give way after an unusual movement, leaving the guard doubled over in pain beneath the basket. The noncontact play raised fears for his cruciate ligament.
Fortunately, the damage has been limited to a bone bruise caused by hyperextension of the knee. For now, he will be sidelined for the next two weeks, when he will be reevaluated to assess his return to the court.
Jalen Suggs is no stranger to the Magic’s injury room. Practically nobody is in Orlando, one of the franchises most punished by injuries year after year, even though none of its leaders has suffered a devastating setback like the ones Moritz Wagner and Jonathan Isaac endured in their time. Right now, Paolo Banchero is dealing with an ankle sprain that will keep him on the sidelines for 4 to 6 weeks.
Orlando sit 1-2 only thanks to the Knicks’ lack of intensity, who have been stuck in a sluggish start after a summer of perhaps too many celebrations. Their next two games are against Toronto, and then they face Boston, Washington and Phoenix. The schedule is demanding, but not overwhelming.
(Cover photo by Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images)