Franz Wagner, the Magic's forward, has been on a rollercoaster ride this season, grappling with a nagging left high ankle sprain that sidelined him for 47 of the last 51 games. However, there's a glimmer of hope for Magic fans as Wagner could potentially make his much-anticipated return against Atlanta this Wednesday. The latest injury report lists him as questionable, hinting at a possible comeback.
The buzz is that Wagner will participate in pregame warmups to assess his readiness. If all goes well and he avoids any setbacks, we might see him back on the court, albeit with a minutes restriction to ease him back into action.
Wagner was off to a stellar start this season, lighting up the scoreboard with averages of 23.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists over 34.5 minutes per game in his first 23 appearances. His shooting was on point too, with splits of .487/.354/.823, propelling Orlando to a promising 14-9 record.
Unfortunately, his momentum was halted by a high ankle sprain in his 24th game. After missing 16 games, he made a brief return in Germany on January 15 and in London shortly after. However, Wagner later admitted that his eagerness to perform in front of his home crowd may have led to an early return.
Following this, he sat out nine more games, returned briefly in February, but suffered another setback. This time, the team decided to prioritize his full recovery, keeping him out indefinitely. If he suits up on Wednesday, it will mark just his 29th game of the season.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley has been optimistic, noting Wagner's progress and recent participation in 5-on-5 drills, indicating a return is imminent. Mosley emphasized that there's no pressure for Wagner to hit a specific number of games before the postseason.
Wednesday's clash with the Hawks is crucial for playoff positioning. The Magic, currently sitting at No. 8 in the East, are in a tight race.
They're just a game behind the No. 7 Sixers, two games shy of the No.
6 Raptors, and 2.5 games away from the No. 5 Hawks.
Meanwhile, they hold a slim half-game lead over the Heat and Hornets, who are tied for ninth.
If Wagner isn't ready to go on Wednesday, his next chance to return will be Friday in Dallas. Magic fans will surely be keeping a close eye on his status as the team pushes for a strong finish to the season.