TORONTO — During a recent game against the Toronto Raptors, Jalen Suggs, a guard for the Orlando Magic, had to be removed from the court in a wheelchair due to experiencing back spasms in the first half.

Suggs appeared to lose his balance while defending an opponent without any contact, leading to his fall where he clutched his lower back in pain. After lying on the floor for several minutes, he was assisted in getting up and subsequently transported off the court in a wheelchair. As he left, he covered his face with a towel to hide his distress. In the short time he played, Suggs scored six points in 13 minutes, contributing to Orlando’s 106-97 win.

Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley commented on the situation, noting that Suggs was experiencing significant pain and that he would undergo further evaluation on Saturday. The Magic are set to face the Utah Jazz on Sunday night, highlighting a challenging schedule ahead.

As the third quarter commenced, the Magic announced that Suggs would not be returning to the game. The young player was selected as the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft and had been averaging 16.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists this season despite the team’s setbacks.

Teammate Cory Joseph expressed hope that Suggs’ condition was not as serious as it first seemed, referencing the team’s unfortunate trend of injuries this season. The Magic were already facing challenges with key players like Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner sidelined due to torn right oblique injuries. In total, six players were unavailable for the game on Friday night, underscoring the difficulties the team has had to navigate.