NBA Notes: Magic, Jalen Suggs, Nets, Rockets, Kevin Durant

Magic

The Magic will have Jalen Suggs back when they open the regular season Wednesday against the Heat.

Head coach Jamahl Mosley confirmed the news (via The Orlando Sentinel’s Jason Beede) after weeks of uncertainty about the guard’s recovery.

Suggs underwent season-ending knee surgery in March to remove a cartilage fragment, then spent the offseason rehabbing.

He missed all of preseason and was listed as questionable for the opener, but Mosley said Suggs has been participating in full-contact 5-on-5 sessions and is ready to go.

“It’s just great to see that he’s able to go through full contact with the group,” Mosley said. “We know what he brings — his energy, his toughness, his defensive presence, and his ability to control the floor.”

Suggs, 24, was named second-team All-Defense in 2024 and remains one of the NBA’s best perimeter defenders. He averaged a career-high 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.5 steals last season before being sidelined.

Mosley said the team will be cautious with Suggs’ minutes early on, particularly in back-to-back sets.

Nets

The Nets exercised their 2026-27 team option on forward Noah Clowney, ensuring his $5.4 million salary will be guaranteed for next season, as relayed by NJ.com’s Adam Zagoria.

Clowney, the 21st pick in the 2023 draft, will now be eligible for a rookie-scale extension in 2026. He averaged 9.1 points and 3.9 rebounds in 46 games last season, limited by ankle injuries.

Brooklyn also waived Kobe Bufkin and Dariq Whitehead, automatically declining their options in the process.

Rockets

Rockets GM Rafael Stone told ESPN’s Michael C. Wright that trading for Kevin Durant wasn’t part of the team’s offseason plan — but the chance to add a “unicorn” changed everything.

“Jalen (Green) and Dillon (Brooks), we love those guys,” Stone said. “Nobody felt they needed to be moved. But Kevin’s archetype is unique. He’s a high-volume efficient scorer who doesn’t have to have the ball all the time. There just aren’t a whole lot of Kevin Durants.”

Durant’s Rockets debut was electric, if imperfect. Houston fell 125–124 in double overtime to the Thunder, with Durant missing a late free throw and fouling out in the second OT.

“I think those two plays are the reason we lost,” he told reporters afterward.

The silver lining was Alperen Sengun, who erupted for 39 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists — a performance The Athletic’s William Guillory called “a sign of what’s to come.”

“He was the backbone of our offense tonight,” teammate Josh Okogie said.