Jalen Suggs can’t wait any longer.
The Magic guard, who’s missed the previous 10 video games resulting from a low again pressure, is able to return to the court docket and assist Orlando get again on monitor with the NBA All-Star break shortly approaching.
“I’m tremendous excited,” Suggs mentioned at shootaround on the AdventHealth Coaching Middle forward of Saturday’s recreation in opposition to the Pistons. “Particularly being on the sideline, simply seeing how … We’re simply in a studying stretch proper now, we’re in a troublesome stretch of the season. It did damage seeing the fellows undergo it and never be capable of go on the market and contribute, not solely with phrases, however with my actions.
“I’m excited to get again, to be trustworthy,” he added. “It was hurting sitting over there on the bench and now that I’m again rocking, I’ve bought some good juice.”
The Magic have desperately missed that juice and high-energy from the All-Defensive guard.
Whereas dropping 5 straight video games and falling to No. 7 within the East coming into Saturday, Orlando went 2-8 within the time since Suggs needed to be wheel-chaired off the court docket Jan. 3 at Toronto resulting from a non-contact low again pressure.
Earlier than his harm, he averaged 16.4 factors, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals throughout 29.0 minutes in 34 begins.
Suggs, who went via a full shootaround session Saturday, was nonetheless formally listed as questionable within the afternoon, however he wasn’t coy concerning the state of affairs.
“I’m good,” Suggs mentioned when requested straight by the Sentinel if might play Saturday night time. “ me. I ain’t going to lie. I’m rocking.”
Along with Suggs, Cole Anthony (sickness) and Goga Bitadze (concussion protocol) remained questionable after shootaround.
Coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned Anthony was “feeling higher” after he missed the final two contests and, just like Suggs, went via shootaround.
Anthony began the primary eight video games Orlando went with out Suggs, however the reserve guard missed the previous two resulting from an sickness. In these eight begins, Anthony averaged 17.0 factors, 5.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals throughout 31.5 minutes.
Bitadze, nonetheless, wasn’t in a position to undergo shootaround nor take part in any bodily contact Saturday as he continues to work via concussion protocol. Sometimes, full contact is the precursor to an injured participant’s return to recreation motion.
The Magic middle missed the previous 5 video games that Orlando misplaced with out him. He averaged a close to double-double with 9.6 factors, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 blocks throughout 24.6 minutes in 36 video games, 33 of which he began, previous to his harm.
Though he was already dominated out for Saturday’s contest, veteran guard Gary Harris (left hamstring pressure) was in a position to undergo “somewhat bit” of the shootaround and he would do some extra capturing previous to tip-off to see how he felt afterward, Mosley mentioned.
Harris and Bitadze had been seen enjoying some two-on-two along with members of the Magic teaching workers following shoootaround Saturday.
Harris initially missed 13 video games resulting from a left hamstring pressure he suffered Nov. 25 at Charlotte. He then returned for 3 contests earlier than he re-aggravated the harm Jan. 1 at Detroit. He’s since missed 11 video games and Saturday was his twelfth straight unavailable.
“You go by principally what they’re telling you and a few of it’s how the younger males really feel,” Mosley mentioned. “We’ve mentioned this earlier than, with hamstrings, they’re tough. You must actually belief within the participant and the way their physique is responding to what’s happening.”
Former Magic gamers to hitch TV, radio broadcast crew
Terrence Ross, who spent elements of seven seasons in Orlando, might be becoming a member of the FanDuel Sports activities Community telecast for the primary time Monday as a pre-game/post-game analyst when the Magic face the Warmth in Miami.
Ross, who formally retired from basketball in Dec. 2023, has been serving as an analyst on the Orlando Magic Audio Community (flagship 96.9 The Sport) for choose video games this season with radio play-by-play announcer Jake Chapman.
Michael Carter-Williams has additionally stepped on this season as an analyst. Different Magic alumni equivalent to Brandon Bass and Pat Burke may even work as analysts for upcoming video games on the Orlando Magic Audio Community.
Jason Beede will be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up subsequent …
Magic at Warmth
When: 7:30, Monday, Kaseya Middle
TV: FanDuel Sports activities Community Florida
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