Jalen Suggs shines as Orlando Magic open summer league with a 91-89 win over Golden State

Las Vegas, NV – The Orlando Magic summer league has begun! the Magic summer squad defeated the Golden State Summer team 91-89 at the Thomas and Mac center on Monday night.

The biggest stand out for Orlando was the recently drafted guard Jalen Suggs whose 24 points lead all scorers for the club, plus eight assists and three blocks.

This was the first test for Suggs since the NCAA final, and he got more and more in sync as the game progressed, though it took a little time to get in sync.

The rookie was picking his spots and trying to get his legs under him in his first showing as a professional. Once everything clicked, Suggs seemed to feel right at home on the court.

“I feel like a little kid on Christmas, to be honest,” he said. “It was so much fun. Getting out there and running again. Getting in that rhythm, getting in the flow. I hadn’t played five on five, besides yesterday (at practice) since the national championship game. Just getting out there and running around, being with teammates. It was a bunch of fun.”

The Warriors were led by rookie Jonathan Kuminga. Although he struggled with his shooting, Kuminga managed a respectable 16 points, six rebounds, three steals and one block. Moody, Golden State’s other lottery pick, had 15 points.

When the Magic needed a key play, Suggs was on the spot, be it a deep 3-point shot, a blocked shot, or a key play of defense, the savvy guard was on point.

Orlando erased a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter thanks in large part to Suggs and his shotmaking. Surprisingly, it was his defense that came through in the biggest moment.

Late in the game, Golden State had a 2-on-1 break, but Suggs stuck with the ball and met fellow rookie Moses Moody at the rim to deny the shot and come away with the rebound. He scored six points late in the game and forced the overtime.

In the overtime period, Suggs scored six points and made a key block on Kyle Guy with 0 seconds remaining to help seal the win.

Summer-league invitee Janis Timma also had a soling game. Timma, a player whom the Magic earned the rights to in a trade with Milwaukee on draft night 2015, drilled a couple of deep 3s and had a solid all-around game with 11 points also had six rebounds and two blocks.

Veterans Cole Anthony and RJ Hampton struggled a bit in the game, with 11 points and 8 turnovers between them. Anthony looked to be pressing a bit, and was only 1 of 9 from the floor.

Hampton finished the game with nine points on 3-for-6 shooting. Like Anthony, it seemed like Hampton was happy to let Suggs shine in this game and was not too aggressive or assertive looking for his shot.

The Magic Next face the Cleveland Cavaliers summer team on Wednesday night