Magic’s Jonathan Isaac Leaves Court in Wheelchair After Apparent Knee Injury

Kim Klement/Associated Press

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac suffered a torn ACL during a 132-116 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday, the team announced.

Dan Woike @DanWoikeSports

Ugh. The Magic say Jonathan Isaac has torn his ACL https://t.co/PbdJKwqYJM

The injury appeared to occur after Isaac jump-stopped past two opponents and planted on the floor in an awkward fashion:

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport

Jonathan Isaac went down with an apparent knee injury and left the game in a wheelchair

Hope he's okay 🙏 https://t.co/MZHoy9rqy2

Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpears

Magic forward Jonathan Isaac wheeled out after suffering a leg injury against the Kings. https://t.co/JegXQti6Ta

Orlando Magic @OrlandoMagic

🙏 J.I. 🙏

“It looked bad, obviously,” Orlando coach Steve Clifford said after the game, per ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. “Until you hear anything, I am just hopeful, that's all.” 

An MRI performed after the game revealed the full extent of his injury.

Once word of Isaac's diagnosis broke, the Magic forward received an outpouring of support from his peers:

Luka Doncic @luka7doncic

@JJudahIsaac prayers up!!🙏🙏🙏

🏁 Jamal Crawford @JCrossover

Prayers to Jonathan Isaac.

Enes Kanter @EnesKanter

Prayers up for my brother @JJudahIsaac 😔🙏 https://t.co/DjuJ62bRo5

Tobias Harris @tobias31

Prayers @JJudahIsaac

The loss of Isaac is a major one for Orlando. The 22-year-old is averaging 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 1.5 steals and 1.3 assists in his third season, all career highs, while shooting 47.1 percent from the field and 34.4 percent from three. 

Isaac's offensive game remains a work in progress, but he's been a defensive difference-maker for the 32-35 Magic, who beat the Kings 132-116 on Sunday and currently hold the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference standings. 

“My whole heart goes out to him. He's such a great guy, such a great person,” Isaac's teammate Aaron Gordon told reporters after the game. “… I hope it's nothing serious. I hope it's just something that kind of shocked him. But it was sad, man. It brought tears to my eyes.”

Isaac's 2019-20 season has been hampered by injuries. He missed 31 games with a left knee injury before the NBA was shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the same knee he injured Sunday. 

Tim Bontemps @TimBontemps

Isaac was already wearing a large brace on his left leg after missing a large chunk of the season with an injury in the same leg. He just was taken away from the court in a wheelchair. https://t.co/21NFEn5QkQ

There's now a possibility that he'll miss a large chunk—if not the entirety—of the 2020-21 season, which is expected to begin in December. That would be an enormous setback for him.