Fifth-year Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs has a Grade 1 MCL contusion in his right knee — an injury he suffered Friday against the Bulls — and is out definitely. The team said the timing of his return will depend on how his treatment goes.
The Magic, who already are without star forward Franz Wagner (high ankle sprain), now lose a key two-way player and one of their team leaders. Backup point guard Tyus Jones likely will start in his place.
For Suggs, this is the next in a myriad of injuries throughout his career. He returned from a bruised left hip Dec. 31 after missing seven games. He also was limited to just 35 games last season, undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in March to remove cartilage damage.
Just once in his career has he played more than 53 games in a season and that was in 2023-24, when he played 75 games and was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive second team.
This season, he was averaging 15.0 points per game, with 3.7 rebounds and career highs in assists (4.7) and steals (1.9) in 23 games.
