{"id":108675,"date":"2024-11-25T05:32:30","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T10:32:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=108675"},"modified":"2024-11-25T05:32:30","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T10:32:30","slug":"magic-jalen-suggs-banchero-carter-injuries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/25\/magic-jalen-suggs-banchero-carter-injuries\/","title":{"rendered":"Orlando Magic Gets Good News On Injury Front, Franz Wagner Talks About Rise To Stardom And 2024 First-Rounder’s Case To Remain In Rotation"},"content":{"rendered":"

The red-hot Orlando Magic are starting to play like the Eastern Conference contenders they were expected to be.\u00a0 Already without Paolo Bacnchero<\/a> and star center Wendell Carter Jr.<\/a> for the last 11 games, point guard Jalen Suggs<\/a> suffered a hamstring injury and didn’t return to Saturday night’s 110-100 victory over the Detroit Pistons.<\/p>\n

Suggs left the game early in the second quarter due to a sore left hamstring. Considered doubtful to return to the game after exiting with 10:14 left in the second quarter, Suggs returned to the Magic’s bench in the second, though he didn’t re-enter the contest. The 23-year-old finished the game with two points on 1 of 3 shooting from the field, along with one assist and one block in nine minutes.<\/p>\n

“Sore left hamstring, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley<\/a> said at the Magic’s Saturday night press conference about Suggs injury. “So, we’re going to see how he responds to treatment.”<\/p>\n

Orlando Magic Gets Good News On Injury Front, Franz Wagner’s Rise To Stardom, And 2024 First-Rounder’s Case To Remain In Rotation<\/h2>\n

For his part, according to Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel<\/a>, Suggs didn’t speak at length about the injury after the game but did say he was good.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m solid. I\u2019m good. Good win tonight.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Suggs, who signed a huge five-year extension in October, turned in a career season last season. The 6-5 guard has been more aggressive in the early going but has struggled with efficiency as he has struggled with his shot and turnovers. However, he has been just as dominant on the defensive end, finishing 10th in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season.<\/p>\n

Suggs has scored in double figures in 14 of his 18 appearances, topping the 20-point mark four times. Suggs has taken a bigger role at handling point guard duties and has struggled with his ball handling. He is a decent facilitator and averages 14.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.2 blocks a game.<\/p>\n

In fact, Suggs apparently won’t miss time as he is not listed on the Magic’s injury list for the game against Charlotte.<\/p>\n

Wendell Carter Jr. is Questionable For the Third Straight Game<\/h3>\n

While Suggs is slated to play against the Hornets,\u00a0 Carter is listed on the Magic’s injury report as questionable for the third straight game. The 25-year-old center downgraded to out the previous two games, has been sidelined for 11 straight games due to plantar fasciitis. He has been able to practice several days this past week, so expect him to return soon.<\/p>\n

Carter has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. The 6-10 big has not played more than 62 games since Chicago took him with the No. 7 pick in the 2019 draft. Still, he has been a starter almost his entire career due to his rebounding ability and physicality.<\/p>\n

Since coming to Orlando in March 2021, Carter has shown drastic improvement on both ends of the court. On the offensive end, Carter continues to excel around the rim, though he has improved his efficiency close to the rim with the Magic. He also has improved his range, passing, and defense with the Magic.<\/p>\n

If Carter cannot play against Charlotte, Goga Bitadze<\/a> will likely start again.\u00a0 Bitadze has shown massive improvement this year after seeing the most action in his career last year with Orlando, his first with the franchise. The 25-year-old Georgian has produced four double-doubles while compiling a career-best 7.9 points and 6.6 rebounds in 14 appearances, including 11 starts. He is also blocking 1.4 shots while shooting 70% from the field.<\/p>\n

It will be interesting to see how Mosley manages his frontcourt rotation when Carter can return. Carter and Bitadze have yet to be paired together during their time with the Magic.<\/p>\n

Mosley’s Frontcourt Options<\/h3>\n

Mosley has several options upfront, so the Magic have the top frontcourt in the league. While Carter can play the four, he is more suited to man the middle. He is not the most mobile big, and his offensive skills don’t really match those of the modern power forward.<\/p>\n

Per Hoopsstats<\/a>, the Magic’s frontcourt is the best in efficiency and is a top-three unit defensively. The Magic’s frontcourt outscored their opponents 72.2 -58.4.<\/p>\n

Franz Wagner<\/a> has been starting at power forward since Banchero’s injury 13 games ago. It appears that Wagner will start alongside either Bitadze or Carter, who is likely to be sidelined at least once more for an extended period — as with his history, for the time being.<\/p>\n

According to Andscape’s Marc J. Spears<\/a>, Banchero will be out for a few more weeks and is hoping to return to the court before Christmas.<\/p>\n