Magic’s Jalen Suggs makes bold Game 3 claim following scary-looking knee injury vs. Cavs

However, it was revealed that Suggs’ injury was being classified as a left knee strain and that he was questionable to return. When the two teams came out of their respective locker rooms at halftime, Suggs emerged from the tunnel and started the second half for the Magic. Although he looked a little gimpy at times, Suggs fought through the pain and finished the game with nine points, six rebounds, and five assists in 29 total minutes. Now, the Magic turn their attention not just to a critical battle at home in Game 3, but to their starter’s availability.

As far as Suggs’ injury goes, he claimed on Monday night that his only focus is Game 3 in Orlando.

“It’s going to be just fine. It’s going to be just fine,” Suggs told reporters in Cleveland, via Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. “We play Thursday at 7 p.m. and I’m going to be present.”

Latest on Jalen Suggs’ Game 3 status

Suggs has been instrumental to the success of the Magic. In a total of 75 regular-season games, he averaged 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while shooting a career-high 47.1 percent from the floor and a career-high 39.7 percent from three-point range. This was a career year for Suggs across the board, and he may just wind up earning All-Defensive First Team honors in a couple of weeks due to the impact he has made on what has become one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.

Not only will the Magic need All-Star Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner on the court to possibly defeat the Cavs in Game 3, but they will also need Suggs ready to go. The good news for Orlando is that they have a few days off due to travel. This will allow Suggs to get the treatment he needs and rest up before the Magic’s most important game of the season.

At this time, it is unknown if Suggs will undergo more testing or further imaging before Thursday’s matchup.

When Suggs fell to the ground with this knee injury, the entire Magic organization held their breath because of the impact the two-way guard makes night in and night out. While Suggs claims he will be ready to go for Game 3, head coach Jamahl Mosley says the team will be cautious with their approach over the next few days.

“It takes the wind out of your team when our head of the snake on defense goes down,” Mosley said on Monday, via Tom Withers of The Associated Press. “He was in quite a bit of pain when he returned, so we’ll evaluate him when we get back home.”

So far, through two games against Cleveland, the Magic have been outscored 193-169 while shooting just 57-of-166 from the floor, or roughly 34.3 percent. Defensively, Suggs and his teammates have been doing their job. Ahead of Thursday’s massive game, a point of emphasis will be put on finding offensive success and production. The guard’s availability for this game will play a direct role in the eventual outcome.