It looks like the Magic will be without starting guard Jalen Suggs for an unknown amount of time.
Suggs, 23, was ruled “out indefinitely” due to a trochlea injury in his left knee, ESPN reported Friday.
Suggs has been unable to play in the Magic’s previous 14 consecutive games, most recently missing Thursday’s matchup against the Warriors, in which he was ruled out with a left thigh contusion.
The Orlando guard was starting to ramp up his on-court activities in preparation of making a return from his thigh bruise, but he started to experience discomfort in his left knee.
Suggs is expected to make a complete recovery with following a treatment plan, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
After being sidelined with a lower back strain earlier in the season and now missing time with the leg injury, Suggs hasn’t appeared in 24 of the Magic’s last 25 games.
Before his most recent injury development, Suggs told reporters on Thursday that he was “progressing” through his rehab.
“I feel like I’m in a good space with it,” Suggs told the Orlando Sentinel Thursday.
“I can’t wait to play basketball, I can’t lie,” Suggs added. “I miss that.”
Suggs, currently in his fourth season with the Magic, was drafted by the team with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Prior to his injury, Suggs was having a breakout season for Orlando, averaging a career-high 16.2 points per game, along with career-bests in rebounds, steals and minutes per game.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley made it clear that the team was looking to protect Suggs for the future.
“We’re not leaving any stone unturned,” Mosley said Tuesday, according to Sports Illustrated. “We’re trying to find every reason to see how he is, but also knowing it’s very important that we look at long-term as well and make sure that he’s full go when he steps on that court for us.”
The Magic are currently seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 29-32 record on the season as they look to reach the playoffs for the second consecutive year.
