Jalen Suggs Leaves Game vs. Toronto in Second Quarter with Back Spasms

Fourth-year guard Jalen Suggs left Friday night's Orlando Magic game versus the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter. He has been ruled out due to back spasms.

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs (4) looks on against the Boston Celtics in the third quarter at Kia Center. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs left Friday night's game versus the Toronto Raptors in the second quarter with back spasms.

With his team up 56-41 with just over three minutes to play in the first half of Friday's matchup with the Toronto Raptors, Suggs went for a steal and missed, falling to the floor. But instead of popping up off the court, the fourth-year pro couldn't attempt to get up.

Instead, he was grabbing at his lower back as he laid on his left side. After a missed shot, the Magic called timeout as Suggs remained down on the court in the same position.

His Magic teammates began pouring onto the floor and surrounded him, and they were joined by a few on-looking Raptors players as well. With broadcast cameras focused in on him, Orlando teammates began lifting Suggs off the floor before it became evident that he was in too much pain to move.

"There was an initial play, I think, on the offensive end, he went down and made a play," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said postgame. "Then coming back, I think he lunged at a ball and that's when [his back] just locked up.

A wheelchair was brought onto the floor to help the former Gonzaga product off the floor. With a towel draped over his head, Magic VP of player performance and wellness Arnie Kander wheeled him into the team's tunnel.

Suggs didn't return after halftime of Friday's win over the Raptors. As Cole Anthony started the second half, the team ruled him out with back spasms.

"I mean, he was in a lot of pain," Mosley said. "He's back in the locker room right now, so we'll get him re-evaluated tomorrow. Right now, it's looking like back spasms, so we'll just have to get him re-evaluated."

Jalen Suggs was forced to exit Friday's game in a wheelchair after sustaining an apparent back injury. 🙏 pic.twitter.com/bEsFET9x8J

— Magic on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Magic) January 4, 2025

It's a crucial development to watch for an Orlando team already currently down its top two scorers, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, to torn obliques and an ACL tear in Moe Wagner's left knee ended his season less than two weeks ago.

Second-year guard Anthony Black was also unavailable Friday night due to a low back contusion – his third straight absence – and Gary Harris is currently out with a re-aggravated left hamstring strain.

Although Suggs' injury looked scary in the moment, both Tristan da Silva and Cory Joseph – two contributors who stepped up in Suggs' absence – mentioned Orlando is doing its best to support him as he understands to what extent he may be hurting.

"I talked to him a little bit after just to see how he is," da Silva said. "He's trying to be in good spirits right now. He said he was watching me on TV (laughing), which I thought was funny, and he was smiling and stuff, so. I feel like he's always trying to stay in a good mental space, but we'll see how it is tomorrow."

"We're just keeping his spirits high. Hopefully it's not as bad as it looked out there," Joseph said. "It's kind of been, unfortunately, a theme this season, we've had guys going down. So we just know, next man up mentality. But definitely, we wanted to pull this one out for him, as for Moe, and Franzi, and Paolo, and Gary and AB. Too many people, right?

"Never want to see that happen, but we know he's a fighter and whatever it is, he'll overcome it. For us, we just have to continue the course."

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