ORLANDO, Fla. — Rookie guard Jalen Suggs, who has been out since Nov. 29, is likely available to play Friday night when the Orlando Magic face the Hornets in Charlotte, the Magic indicated Thursday in a tweet.
What You Need To Know
- Magic guard Jalen Suggs could play Friday night against Hornets
- The guard has been out since Nov. 29 with a fractured right thumb
- The rookie was drafted No. 5 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft
- He was averaging 12.3 points and 3.6 assists before getting injured
Suggs, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, fractured his right thumb when Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid swiped at the ball and came down on it as Suggs drove to the basket. His right hand is considered his shooting hand.
He has missed 21 of Orlando’s 42 games this season. He was averaging 12.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game when he went out.
Suggs and rookie teammate Franz Wagner, who was selected No. 8 overall in the 2021 draft, are considered key pieces to the Magic’s rebuild effort. Orlando is 7-35 so far this season, the league’s worst record, and has lost 10 games in a row.