Franz Wagner didn’t waste any time putting the Milwaukee Bucks on their heels Friday night in Orlando.
In the NBA Cup game at Kia Center, the Magic forward came out firing and kept rolling through the first half, piling up 14 points in just 11 minutes. By halftime, Wagner had 18 points, five rebounds and seven assists as Orlando took a 52-36 lead over Milwaukee.
Wagner has been carrying a heavy load for the Magic, and the scoring surge has become a familiar sight. Entering the game, he was averaging 23.5 points, 6.5 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 1.4 steals. He’s been on that kind of run after being limited to only 34 games last season because of multiple injuries.
The 25-year-old has also been coming off one of his biggest nights yet. In Orlando’s win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, Wagner matched his career high with 38 points. He finished that game 13-of-23 from the field and 9-of-10 at the free-throw line in a 123-108 victory.
His latest stretch has come with Paolo Banchero sidelined for multiple weeks with an ankle sprain, and Wagner has been the player carrying the cudgels in his absence. The No. 8 pick in 2021 has stepped into the spotlight and kept the offense moving.
There was also a return for Jalen Suggs, who was back in the lineup against Milwaukee after missing several weeks with a bone bruise.
LET FRANZ WAGNER COOK 🧑🍳
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) November 14, 2026
He currently has 14 points in 11 minutes of play! pic.twitter.com/rPqR2JsHKX
Orlando entered the night still searching for its first home win, while also trying to string together a third straight victory and move to 4-7. The Bucks, on the other hand, came in desperate to snap an eight-game losing streak.
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