Magic guards Suggs and Fultz return for home victory over Nets as Banchero sets pace
ORLANDO, Fla. — Magic guards Jalen Suggs and Markelle Fultz returned to the court inside Kia Center on Wednesday night for a 114-106 victory against the Nets.
Suggs missed two games in a row due to a right thigh contusion suffered at Washington last week while Fultz sat out Sunday’s loss to the Pacers with a left knee strain.
In addition to dropping a home game to Indiana without Suggs, the Magic (38-28) suffered a 24-point road loss to the Knicks with Suggs watching from the bench.
Both contests were physical and had the feel of postseason basketball — something the majority of Orlando’s roster has yet to experience.
“Those were two fun games that I missed,” Suggs said at shootaround Wednesday. “I was really hurt, I’m telling you. I wanted to be out there with the boys and the environment was high-level. I hate missing those but it was a good learning moment for us.
“For me personally, [it helped] to be able to see that and getting a chance to look at that from a different perspective to see what’s going on. Now we have all of that on film that we can watch and go back to help game-plan and get better.”
Suggs (14 points) returned to the Magic’s starting lineup against Brooklyn (26-40) alongside guard Gary Harris (13) with a frontcourt of Franz Wagner (14), Paolo Banchero (21) and Wendell Carter Jr. (15). Forward Jonathan Isaac added 11 points off the bench.
While he’s known for defensive tenacity and aggressive style of play, Suggs also has made an impact on offense this season thanks to his improved 3-point shooting and ability to push the pace.
He’s shooting a career-high 39.3% from beyond the arc, which is up from 32.7% last year and 21.4% from his rookie campaign. He’s scored in double figures 41 times and 20-plus points eight times.
“When he pushes the basketball with pace, getting down the floor and flattening the defense out, everybody’s having to play against closeouts vs. a set defense,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said pre-game. “Then, his ability to make shots has changed so much for us; being able to space the floor gives guys room to attack the basket. And he’s a willing passer to make the right play.”
Suggs is known for his toughness — he’s missed just seven games due to injury this season — but Orlando’s push for the playoffs and what could be ahead of the team come April was on his mind when not playing the last two games.
“All that comes into play when you’re dealing with something like that,” Suggs said. “Balancing hurt vs. injured. That’s always kind of been what I was taught. Injuries you take care of [while] you play through hurt. We took care of this one; got it out of the way so there’s no more dealing with it.
“We’re just focused on hooping and the tasks at hand.”
He’s averaging 12.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and a team-high 1.4 steals during 26.6 minutes in 58 games played.
Entering Wednesday’s games, Suggs was tied for ninth in the NBA in steals and ranked 14th in steals-to-turnover ratio (81/111).
“It’s big time for him to be back in the lineup,” Mosley said. “Again, he’s the head of the snake when it comes to our defense. He’s that front line and when guys see him up there picking up the basketball, making guys turn and work, It turns up everyone else’s intensity as well.”
