Jalen Suggs Returned With 'Confidence' to Magic
After missing two games with a right thigh injury, Jalen Suggs returned to the lineup for the Orlando Magic. In his absence, the Magic dropped games to the New York Knicks and Indiana Pacers, but as predicted, he returned with a vengeance.
The Magic beat the Brooklyn Nets 114-106, and Suggs' defense was a key reason why the Magic won. Dennis Schröder had an inefficient night, in large part to Suggs' consistent defense.
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On offense, Suggs picked up where he left off, scoring 14 points and making half of his three-pointers.
After the game, coach Jamahl Mosley expressed how much better the Magic are with Suggs in the lineup.
“He sets the tone defensively, but also, he came out and was willing to step into his shot with confidence," said Mosely. "If you noticed there was a couple times he gets the ball in transition, flattened the defense out like we talked about with his pace, got it back to guys, the ball moved, and we were able to step into shots."
Heading into the playoffs, the Magic will lean into their defensive prowess and tout a brand of offense that, while efficient, does not stuff the stat sheet. Suggs is hardly a volume scorer, but the intelligence and tenacity he brings to both ends of the floor cannot be understated.
While Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner lead the way for the Magic, Suggs is a bit of an unsung hero who helps define the culture in Orlando.
"His defensive energy, his defensive focus, his toughness, his energy, our guys feed off that,” added Mosely. When games matter more than ever before, Suggs is a guy the Magic will want on the court.
