AP – Jalen Suggs made a stunning comeback for Orlando in Game 2. The Magic now need to make one of their own to save their season.
Suggs shook off what appeared to a serious injury to the guard’s left knee and played most of the second half as the Magic lost 96-86 to the Cleveland Cavaliers to fall behind 0-2 in their Eastern Conference play-off series.
Unable to put any weight on his leg, Suggs was carried off the floor in the first quarter in pain and crying. However, he came back after halftime wearing a sleeve on his leg and sparked the Magic before the Cavs put them away. Following the game, Suggs, who finished with nine points, six rebounds and five assists in 29 minutes, said he expects to play in game three at Orlando on Friday.
“I’m good,” he said. “I was able to finish. It will be cool to get back home and get treatment for a couple of days. We play on Friday and I’ll be ready.” It was hard to imagine Suggs returning to the series, never mind the game, when he went down with 4:02 remaining in the first quarter.
While helping defend Donovan Mitchell, Suggs collapsed to the floor after contact with Cleveland’s All-Star guard, who was fouled on the play. Suggs immediately grabbed his leg as his teammates gathered around him. As he was assisted off the floor, the other Magic players seemed stunned at seeing the former football player and their best defensive guard suffering.
