Orlando Magic rookie Jalen Suggs said that he will be able to play Friday on the road against the Utah Jazz after experiencing Achilles soreness on Tuesday.
Suggs appeared to suffer the injury early in the first quarter versus the Portland Trail Blazers when he was fouled on a layup attempt by Jusuf Nurkic. He checked out of the game after the period and was eventually ruled out of returning to play.
The team wanted to be cautious with it and not risk further injury.
“I feel good now. I will be alright tonight,” Suggs said on Friday. “It is one of those things where it got a little tight and felt it a little bit but we’re all good. I am OK.”
Orlando started a four-game West Coast road trip on Tuesday and had the past two days off after defeating the Trail Blazers. The team wanted to monitor the injury to Suggs but the fifth pick was able to practice and will be available to play versus the Jazz.
Suggs, who was named to the NBA Rising Stars game, is averaging 12.2 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 35 games this season. He currently ranks seventh in scoring, third in assists and fourth in steals among all first-year players.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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