Tristan da Silva Returns as Magic Look to Regroup at Home
After a rough six-game stretch that saw his production dip noticeably, Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva is back in action - and feeling like himself again.
Before landing on the injury report with a right shoulder bruise, da Silva was clearly not at full strength. Over those six games, the second-year forward managed just 4.3 points per game while shooting a chilly 21.7% from three.
He also averaged fewer than a rebound per quarter and less than one assist per night. It was a stark contrast to the six games prior, when he was giving the Magic 10.5 points a night on nearly 40% shooting from deep, along with 3.8 rebounds and two assists.
That kind of drop-off usually signals something’s off - and in this case, it was. The shoulder bruise sidelined da Silva for four straight games, giving him the time he needed to heal and reset.
“I feel good,” da Silva said Friday morning at the AdventHealth Training Center ahead of the Magic’s matchup with the Hornets. “It’s been something that I’ve been dealing with a little bit, so I’m just glad that I finally took the time to settle back down and get things re-centered with myself. I’m excited to step back out there again.”
The Magic had listed da Silva as probable heading into the game, and head coach Jamahl Mosley confirmed he expected the forward to be available. More importantly, da Silva said the shoulder wasn’t bothering him anymore during game action.
“Getting him back in the fold healthy is very important for us,” Mosley said.
While da Silva’s return is a positive step, Orlando is still dealing with a handful of injury situations. Reserve big man Goga Bitadze, who missed Tuesday’s game in Portland, was spotted getting some work in after shootaround. The team planned to make a call on his status closer to tip-off.
Jalen Suggs, meanwhile, remains doubtful. The All-Defensive guard traveled with the team during their recent four-game West Coast swing but didn’t suit up for any of those contests. On Friday, he was limited to spot shooting and still wasn’t cleared for contact.
“It was great for him to be able to be on the trip,” Mosley said. “The energy he provides to this group - the togetherness of this group - is so important. Slowly but surely, just trying to get his way back into the fold as well.”
Franz and Moe Wagner stayed back in Orlando during the trip to focus on their respective rehabs.
Franz, who’s now missed seven straight games with a high left ankle sprain, was able to do some light shooting but still isn’t putting much pressure on the foot. The team is taking a cautious, step-by-step approach with his recovery.
“Being able to walk around again is very important for us - just the slow progression,” Mosley said.
As for Moe Wagner, who’s working his way back from a torn ACL in his left knee suffered about a year ago, the next phase of his rehab includes controlled scrimmage work - 2-on-2s, 3-on-3s, and some contact drills. There’s still no definitive timetable for his return, but the Magic are monitoring how he responds to each stage of treatment.
“There’s no real time frame on what we’re doing,” Mosley said. “He’s just seeing how he keeps responding to treatment. Those stages for him are going to continue to be important.”
The Magic are back at the Kia Center this weekend after more than two weeks on the road, with the defending champion Nuggets coming to town on Saturday night. For a team that’s been banged up and grinding through a tough stretch away from home, the return to familiar surroundings couldn’t come at a better time.
“It lifts the spirits,” Mosley said. “We’ve had a heck of a road run, back and forth, and our guys just being able to be home, sleep in their bed, be around family, get back in [the practice facility], get the right type of treatment, get our bodies right - that’s so important.”
With da Silva back, Suggs working his way toward a return, and the Wagners progressing through rehab, the Magic are slowly starting to get healthier. And with the Nuggets on deck, they’ll need every bit of that progress to keep pace with one of the league’s elite.