In a devastating blow to their resurgent season, the Orlando Magic saw key reserve Moritz Wagner go down with a potentially serious left knee injury in Saturday’s game against the Miami Heat. The 6-foot-11 big man, who was making a strong case for Sixth Man of the Year, crumpled to the court in agony with 2:33 left in the first quarter after his knee buckled on a drive to the basket.
Wagner had to be helped off the floor straight to the locker room, unable to put any weight on the leg. The team announced he will undergo further evaluation on Sunday, but teammates and coaches feared the worst in the somber aftermath of their gutsy 121-114 comeback win.
We’re all praying for him. This one was for Mo. It’s really bad to see one of our brothers go down. Like we’ve been saying, ‘Next man up.’ But this guy deserved better than this.
Goga Bitadze, Magic center
Injury Bug Bites Magic Hard
The gritty Magic, one of the NBA’s biggest surprises at 17-12, have been decimated by injuries to their young core. Leading scorer Paolo Banchero has been out since late November with a torn oblique, missing his 25th straight game. His scoring sidekick Franz Wagner, Mo’s younger brother, sat out his fifth in a row with the same injury. Starting guard Jalen Suggs was a late scratch Saturday with a sprained ankle.
Amid the attrition, the elder Wagner emerged as an indispensable sparkplug off the bench. The fourth-year pro was averaging career-highs of 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 59% from the field. He appeared in all 29 games, a stabilizing force for a team in constant flux.
A “One-Man Army” Sidelined
If the injury is as bad as Orlando fears, they’ll be hard-pressed to replace Wagner’s two-way impact and infectious energy. Bitadze called him a “one-man army,” while Cole Anthony said “he was going to be the Sixth Man of the Year. Hopefully he can come back and pick that up.”
You look at the crazy numbers he’s had this season. Sixth man, definitely.
Goga Bitadze on Mo Wagner
Head coach Jamahl Mosley was too emotional to take questions about Wagner after the game, a testament to his vital role. The Magic were just starting to get national attention as a plucky playoff contender. Now, their feel-good start hangs in the balance as they await word on the severity of yet another crushing injury to a cornerstone player.
Orlando will try to regroup Tuesday against the Hawks, knowing full well no one player can fill the void Mo Wagner leaves behind. Their admirable “next man up” mindset faces its stiffest test yet.
