ORLANDO, Fla. — Shooting guard Jalen Suggs will miss the Orlando Magic's game Friday night against the Detroit Pistons because of what the team called a "strained" right ankle on the NBA injury report.
INJURY UPDATE:
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) December 8, 2023
Jonathan Isaac and Jalen Suggs are OUT for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons. pic.twitter.com/6cw5BUxPG5
Suggs had to be helped off the court after injuring his ankle in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
The Magic have not indicated how many games they expect Suggs to miss.
On Thursday, Orlando recalled guard Jett Howard from its G League team in Osceola County.
We have recalled Jett Howard from the @OsceolaMagic of the NBA G League. pic.twitter.com/fsRDH8TX1W
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) December 7, 2023
Orlando (14-7) returns home to face Detroit (2-19) at 7 p.m. after back-to-back losses on the road following its nine-game winning streak.
Depth has been a strength for Orlando during its strong beginning to the season, but Suggs becomes the third starter out with injuries.
Center Wendell Carter Jr. has missed all but five games after fracturing the third metacarpal in his left hand, requiring surgery. Point guard Markelle Fultz also has missed all but five games because of tendinitis in his left knee. Forward Jonathan Isaac also has missed Orlando's past two games after spraining his right ankle.
The injuries to key defensive players are starting to stack up. Suggs is one of the Magic's toughest defenders, often assigned to cover the opponents' best players, and Isaac is the defensive anchor of the bench unit, as well as for key stops. Carter, as center, also plays a significant role on defense near the basket.
Howard, the No. 11 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, started four games for the Osceola Magic and averaged 19 points and five rebounds in 33.2 minutes per game. He shot 32.5% from 3-point range. Orlando had assigned Howard to the G League team to allow him to get some playing time because, at the time, they had too many guards for him to get on the court much. He has played in five of Orlando's games, averaging 0.4 points and 0.4 rebounds in just 4.6 minutes per game.
The other guards on the Magic's active roster are Cole Anthony, Gary Harris, guard/forward Caleb Houstan and rookie Anthony Black, who has been starting with Fultz out. Anthony has been leading the team's bench, averaging 15.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 26.1 minutes per game. He leads the NBA in total points scored off the bench with 323.
Last year's Magic started the season 5-20, primarily because of a significant number of injuries.