Jalen Suggs Leaves NBA Cup Game With Hip Injury

Magic guard Jalen Suggs engaged in a scoring battle with Knicks star Jalen Brunson during the first half of Saturday’s NBA Cup semifinals matchup, but pain forced him out of the game after he injured his hip in the third quarter, writes Tim Bontemps of ESPN.

Suggs was in obvious discomfort as he talked to reporters in the locker room, Bontemps adds, and he’ll be evaluated further when the team returns to Orlando on Sunday.

“It’s the part that sucks the most,” Suggs said of potentially having to miss time. “I truly tried (to play). There’s nowhere else I would have rather been than on the court battling with my guys, especially in a close game. But (God) be having other plans, and I can’t be mad at his plans.”

Bontemps states that Suggs refused to answer any more questions about his condition, and he struggled to stand up and leave the area. He also couldn’t explain exactly what caused it.

“I don’t even know,” he said. “We’ll figure out what it is.”

Suggs was injured on a drive to the basket with 5:58 left in the third quarter when OG Anunoby stole the ball from him (video link via NBA.com). Suggs yelled and grabbed at his left hip, but tried to continue playing before a timeout was called. He remained in the game after the stoppage, but was removed for good shortly afterward.

Suggs was in the midst of one of the best games of his career, as he poured in 25 points before halftime. Bontemps notes that he was able to get wherever he wanted to go against New York’s defense and repeatedly drove to the basket. He finished with 26 points in a little more than 29 minutes, and the Knicks pulled away for a 132-120 victory.

Injuries have been a frequent problem for Suggs throughout his five years in the NBA, as he’s only had one season where he’s played more than 53 games. Last season ended in January due to a knee injury that required surgery, and his recovery process lasted through most of October.

The Magic were expected to be one of the top teams in the East, but injuries to their stars have limited them to a 15-11 record. Franz Wagner is currently out with a high left ankle sprain and Paolo Banchero recently returned from a left groin strain.

“He’s been battling through some pain the last few games,” Banchero said of Suggs. “He’s just been giving it his all for the team and kind of playing through it, so you hope it’s not too bad, whatever the injury is. We don’t want to lose him. He gave us a great effort in that first half … unfortunately, he couldn’t go in the second half.”