The Orlando Magic will be without one of their most important pieces Thursday night, as the team has ruled out Franz Wagner against the Charlotte Hornets due to left ankle soreness.
It marks Wagner’s first missed game since returning from a lengthy absence earlier this month. The star forward had been sidelined for more than a month after suffering a left ankle sprain, an injury that forced Orlando to carefully manage his workload upon return. Wagner made his comeback on January 15 during the Magic’s two-game European trip against Memphis, appearing in both contests despite clear signs of rust.
Caution, Not a Setback
Importantly, Orlando has not labeled Wagner’s absence as a setback. Instead, this appears to be a maintenance decision following his first extended stretch of live action since early December. Despite having three days off after their most recent game, the Magic are opting for caution rather than pushing Wagner through lingering soreness.
In his return, Wagner showed flashes of his usual all-around impact. He scored 18 points with nine rebounds in his hometown game in Germany, then followed that up with 14 points Sunday. The efficiency wasn’t fully there yet, but the offensive rhythm and activity level were encouraging signs for a player still ramping up.
With Wagner out, second year forward Tristan da Silva is the most likely candidate to slide into the starting lineup. Da Silva has earned trust for his spacing, movement without the ball, and willingness to defend multiple positions, traits that help stabilize lineups missing a primary scorer.
MORE: Giannis Sends Warning to Bucks After Calling Out “Selfish” Play
Magic Trying to Build Momentum
Orlando enters Thursday looking to maintain momentum after recently snapping a prolonged drought of consecutive wins. The Magic earned back-to-back victories for the first time since December 1, including a strong showing in the Berlin Game powered by Paolo Banchero, who finished with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Anthony Black added 21 points, six rebounds, and seven assists in that win.
That said, the Magic are coming off a loss Sunday and will again be short-handed. Jalen Suggs has also been ruled out with a right MCL contusion, marking his eighth straight missed game. Suggs had previously been listed as questionable, signaling his return may be approaching.
For now, Orlando’s focus remains on balance, protecting key pieces like Wagner while continuing to grind out wins in a tightly packed Eastern Conference race.