Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs exited the court in a wheelchair on Friday after suffering an agonizing non-contact back injury against the Raptors.
Suggs had raced out to double team Toronto’s Immanuel Quickley when he fell to the ground in pain, grabbing his back.
The former Gonzaga standout appeared to be in immense discomfort on the floor as his teammates looked on, before being taken off of the court in a wheelchair.
‘He was in a lot of pain,’ Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said after the game. He’s back in the locker room now, we’ll get him re-evaluated tomorrow. Right now, it’s looking like back spasms.’
Suggs exited the game – which Orlando won 106-97 – with six points in 13 minutes.
According to sports medicine doctor Brian Sutterer MD, Suggs would not be expected to miss extended time if his injury is officially diagnosed as back spasms.
Jalen Suggs’ head was covered in a towel as he left the court in a wheelchair on Friday
Suggs writhed on the ground in pain. His coach said afterwards that he appeared to suffer back spasms.
Sutterer added that if Suggs does not receive an MRI for the issue, he could be back on the court within days.
However, in the chance that Suggs actually suffered a nerve or disc injury, he would be set for a longer absence.
Suggs played a career-high 75 games last season but has dealt with injury problems during his NBA career.
He played just 48 games his rookie season after breaking his right thumb, and also played just 53 games the following year.
Now in his fourth season, Suggs is averaging a career-high 16.4 points per game as a consistent starter for the Magic.
Orlando’s next game is on Sunday against the Jazz.