Atlanta, GA
Magic’s Jalen Suggs, not yet 100%, out vs. Atlanta with quad injury
ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orlando Magic’s Wednesday practice at AdventHealth Training Center – the last one before departing for a Thursday date with the Atlanta Hawks – was minus a full participant.
Jalen Suggs, who’s dealt with a left quad contusion since the fourth quarter of the Magic’s Jan. 25 game versus Detroit, only participated in non-contact portions of the session, coach Jamahl Mosley said post-practice.
Then, Suggs was listed as out on the Magic’s 12:30 p.m. Wednesday injury report. His absence versus the Hawks will be his 10th straight game predating the All-Star break, and the 20th missed game over Orlando’s last 21.
The night he sustained the injury, Suggs was diagnosed with a sore left knee before leaving the Kia Center that evening.
For a portion of games following, Suggs was listed as questionable before an eventual downgrade to out. Then, he began to be listed as doubtful before the same downgrades would come.
This instance, however, marks the first time he’s been ruled out more than 24 hours in advance of tipoff.
Asked Wednesday if there’s something deeper about his bruise that’s slowing his process, Mosley said no, cautioning the same thing he did when both Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner had extended absences with their right abdominal muscle tears: “Everybody responds to treatment, everybody responds to different injuries differently.
“And so, you want to treat it as such and not rush a process of getting him fully whole just to squeak back in to not be 100 percent on the court because he’s trying to push certain things,” Mosley added. “I think it’s so important that we get him back fully healthy where there is no nagging pain as we go through it.”
Whenever Suggs is back available, there will be little time for readjustment.
The 7:30 p.m. tip with the Hawks is the first of 26 games in 52 days to close the regular season. Orlando finds itself rooted in a tightly contested East playoff race, and an every-other-day pace of games could be a daunting task for Suggs to walk back into.
Balancing his recovery with the remaining season’s shortening runway, Orlando desires to accommodate his health more than anything.
“I really do believe that getting it right is the most important thing,” Mosley said. “I understand there is a timeline and 26 games left in 53 days now, I get that. We all get that.
“But also, the longevity of this young man and his career is also very important to make sure that we’re not rushing something back that’s not all the way right. I think that’s very important that we continue to stay on the same page when it comes to that.”
The challenge in finding the happy medium is amplified by Orlando’s struggles while missing Suggs.
Over the last 20 games, the Magic have won just six – one being the singular game he was available. In that time, Orlando owns the NBA’s second-worst net rating – scoring a a league-low 104.3 points per 100 possessions while surrendering 112.9.
For context, the Magic’s defense over the course of the entire year is allowing 108.7 points per 100 possessions, which is the third-best mark in the league.
“It’s been a lot,” veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said of Suggs’ missing impact over the last month and a half. “Especially for us defensively, and then offensively, he’s our point guard. He gets us in spots, and it seems a bit more easier flow[ing] with him when he’s back. As far as defensive-wise, that’s where we miss him the most. The way he puts heat on the ball, the way he guards, the energy that he brings – everybody feeds off of that, even myself.
“Just having him come back for us as soon as possible is going to be great for us. I think that’s going to complete our team.”
The Magic and Hawks tip at 7:30 p.m. at the State Farm Arena on Thursday, Feb. 20.
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Atlanta, GA
Philadelphia Phillies lose fifth straight game to end homestand, swept by Atlanta Braves
Michael Harris II homered and had three hits as the streaking Atlanta Braves defeated the slumping Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 on Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep of their NL East rivals.
Ozzie Albies hit an RBI double and Austin Riley also drove in a run for the Braves, who have won five in a row and nine of 11. It was Atlanta’s first series sweep of at least three games at Philadelphia in 10 years.
Kyle Schwarber went deep for the Phillies, who have lost five straight and 10 of 13. They were outscored 56-33 on a 2-7 homestand against the Diamondbacks, Cubs and Braves, leaving Philadelphia 6 1/2 games behind first-place Atlanta in the division standings.
Raisel Iglesias escaped trouble in the ninth inning for his fifth save. Philadelphia put runners on first and second with one out, but Trea Turner struck out and Schwarber lined out to right field on an excellent running catch by Ronald Acuña Jr.
Tyler Kinley (3-0) pitched a scoreless sixth for the win.
Schwarber’s two-run shot in the first gave Philadelphia a 2-0 lead.
Harris homered leading off the third before the Braves went ahead in the fifth with three runs against rookie starter Andrew Painter (1-1) and lefty reliever Tim Mayza.
Painter was lifted after he opened the inning by allowing singles to Harris and Acuña. Mayza loaded the bases with a walk, and the Braves tied the game on Matt Olson’s groundout. Riley’s dribbler to third went for an RBI infield single, and Albies’ double to the left-field wall made it 4-2.
Riley saved at least one run while ending a Philadelphia threat in the bottom of the fifth with a stellar defensive play at third base.
Braves starter Grant Holmes allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings.
On a chilly night, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto sat out after leaving Saturday’s game with lower back tightness.
Up next
Braves: Begin a four-game series Monday night at Washington. RHP Bryce Elder (2-1, 0.77 ERA) opposes Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (1-2, 6.16).
Phillies: Open seven-game trip Monday night with the first of four games against the Cubs. RHP Aaron Nola (1-4, 4.03 ERA) faces Chicago RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 3.63).
Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 113-102 on Saturday, led by 28 points from Jalen Brunson. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 26.
The Knicks are 35-17 in Eastern Conference games. New York has a 9-4 record in one-possession games.
The Hawks are 27-25 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta is third in the league scoring 18.1 fast break points per game. McCollum leads the Hawks averaging 5.0.
The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Hawks allow to opponents. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.
Dyson Daniels is scoring 11.9 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.3 points and 2.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.4 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points per game.
Hawks: 5-5, averaging 117.2 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow).
Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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