Photo by Kim Klement-Pool/Getty Images
Jonathan Isaac’s non-contact injury has turned out to be a torn ACL.
Everything was going as well as it could be for the Orlando Magic in the bubble. They opened their restart with a blowout of the Brooklyn Nets and hammered the Sacramento Kings to slide up to the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference. The only caveat is what occurred early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s victory over the Kings.
Small forward Jonathan Isaac, who returned from a left knee hyperextension Friday against the Nets, drove to the basket and hop stepped between a pair of defenders. He immediately knew something was wrong as he threw the ball away and crumbled to the hardwood, clutching that same knee in pain.
Medical staff wrapped the ligament in a towel and extended it, which seemed to cause Isaac even more pain. Ultimately, he was taken off the court in a wheelchair and the injury news was the worst-case scenario for Magic fans and the organization: a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)(via ESPN).
Judging from the replay, it seems Isaac exerted most, if not all, of his landing force on his left knee, causing it to buckle awkwardly. The 6-foot-11 forward had missed the last 31 games leading up to the season’s suspension after suffering the hyperextension injury on New Year’s Day in Washington, DC.
In Friday’s 128-118 win, Isaac scored 16 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-2 from long range and 2-of-2 free throws, corralled six boards and swiped a steal in 16 minutes off the bench. He left Sunday’s game with four points, four assists, three rebounds and two steals in 14 minutes of action.
Can the Magic stay hot without Jonathan Isaac?
This is a major loss not only for the Magic organization but for Isaac’s growth as well. Isaac, a New York City native, attended IMG Academy and played college ball at Florida State. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old has been riddled with lower-body injuries since being drafted sixth overall by the Magic in 2017. His injury history includes both of his ankles, his hamstring, a strained left foot and a concussion (via FOX Sports).
Isaac ends the 2019-20 season with averages of 11.9 points, 6.8 boards, 2.3 blocks and 1.6 steals in 34 games played. He shot 47 percent from the field, including 52.1 percent from inside the arc, and 77.9 percent from the foul line. With the injury occurring now in August, Isaac is in danger of missing most, if not all, of next season as well depending on when exactly it starts.
For now, expect rookie Gary Clark and second-year player Wesley Iwundu to receive more playing time in Isaac’s absence. The Magic seek their sixth consecutive victory Tues. night against the Indiana Pacers.