The Play-In Tournament is here, and the Orlando Magic are stepping into the spotlight with a must-win matchup against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. Stakes are sky-high: win, and it’s a date with the Boston Celtics in Round 1. Lose, and things get dicey with an elimination game waiting. But as the Magic prep for battle, all eyes are on one key player—Jalen Suggs.

Suggs has been a huge piece of Orlando’s perimeter defense and backcourt chemistry this season, but he’s coming into this crucial matchup with a big ol’ red flag next to his name on the injury report. And just to make things more dramatic, the man was spotted courtside in New York just 24 hours earlier, cheering on his superstar girlfriend at the WNBA Draft. Priorities? Balanced.

Suggs headlines Magic injury report ahead of Play-In

Let’s just rip the Band-Aid off: Jalen Suggs is out. The official designation is a left knee trochlea cartilage tear—say that three times fast—and it couldn’t come at a worse time for the Magic. Suggs has been a defensive bulldog all year, and without him, Orlando’s perimeter D might look like Swiss cheese trying to slow down Trae Young.

Big man Moe Wagner is also out with a torn left ACL, which further dents Orlando’s size and bench presence. As for Mac McClung, Trevelin Queen, and Ethan Thompson, they’re ineligible because they’re two-way players. So, it’s all hands on deck for the Magic’s regular roster.

It’s not all sunshine on the Hawks’ side, either. Trae Young is listed as probable with right Achilles tendinitis, but let’s be real—he’s not missing this game unless his foot falls off.

However, Clint Capela, Jalen Johnson, Kobe Bufkin, and Larry Nance Jr. are all out with various injuries. That’s a ton of size and skill gone from Atlanta’s rotation. Nance might return later if the Hawks make a deep run, but for Tuesday, it’s up to Onyeka Okongwu and Mouhamed Gueye to do the dirty work inside.

And if you’re thinking turnovers will decide this one, you’re right. Orlando forces turnovers better than almost anyone in the league (2nd overall), while Atlanta loves handing the ball over like it’s a gift basket (22nd in turnover rate). If the Hawks can’t hold onto the ball, things might get ugly fast.

Jalen Suggs Goes From Courtside King To Courtside Spectator

While Magic fans were nervously refreshing injury updates, Jalen Suggs was out in New York being the ultimate supportive boyfriend. On April 14, he was front and center as his girlfriend, Hailey Van Lith, was selected 11th overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky. The moment was straight out of a rom-com: hugs, tears, and a kiss that practically confirmed what NBA and WNBA fans had been speculating for years—these two are official.

Van Lith, who just finished a historic college career by leading TCU to its first-ever Elite Eight, now joins forces with Angel Reese in Chicago. And she’s not shy about appreciating the support either. That viral clip of Suggs and her dad losing their minds after one of her March Madness threes? She called it “a little embarrassing,” but mostly “just them being them.”

Suggs, for his part, was glowing with pride. “When it’s your people, it brings it to another level,” he said. It’s clear this isn’t just a sports power couple—they’re each other’s biggest fans.

While Jalen Suggs won’t be suiting up for the Magic on Tuesday, his presence has already made waves off the court. But now it’s up to his teammates to pick up the slack and fend off a hungry Hawks squad. With Orlando’s perimeter defense compromised and Trae Young lurking, it’ll take a total team effort to keep their playoff dreams alive. And hey, if the Magic can pull it off, maybe Suggs and Van Lith can turn this week into a double celebration.