Orlando Magic Feel Franz Wagner’s Absence in NBA Cup Semifinal Loss - and Look Ahead to a Tough Test Against Denver
The Orlando Magic’s run in the NBA Cup came to a halt in the semifinals, falling to a New York Knicks squad that would go on to win the tournament. But beyond the scoreboard, what really stood out in that loss was what wasn’t on the floor: Franz Wagner.
Wagner, sidelined with injury, didn’t just take his scoring off the court - he took a whole layer of defensive identity with him. And for a young Magic team built on grit and cohesion, that absence was impossible to ignore.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley didn’t mince words when asked about Wagner’s impact.
“His size, physicality, IQ. There were stretches even last year he was guarding other teams’ best players when we had guys out,” Mosley said.
“He’s up for every challenge, understands game plans to a T, and knows guys’ tendencies. His physicality and competitiveness-those are pieces you can’t make up for when he steps off the floor."
That’s the kind of player Wagner is - not just a scorer or a wing with length, but a tone-setter. The guy who takes the toughest defensive assignment, who knows the scouting report inside and out, and who brings a level of toughness that’s contagious. Without him, the Magic’s defense lacked its usual bite, especially against a Knicks team that thrives on physicality and half-court execution.
As for Wagner’s recovery? It’s still in the early stages.
“Nothing on court obviously-just sitting down and working on form shooting. That’s about it,” Mosley said.
No timeline, no return date. Just patience. And in the meantime, the Magic are being tested.
That test gets even tougher with the Denver Nuggets up next - a team that’s not just defending champions but also playing some of their best basketball of the season. Mosley knows exactly what his group is walking into.
“They’re playing at such a high clip right now-the way they’re reading and feeling off each other, Joker playing at one of the highest levels as he always is,” Mosley said. “We have to be in sync, communicate, be disruptive early, but stick to the game plan because any sidestep with them, they’re going to make you pay."
Denver’s offense, led by Nikola Jokić, is a masterclass in chemistry and execution. They don’t just run plays - they read and react, punish mistakes, and force defenses to stay locked in for all 24 seconds. That’s a tall order for any team, let alone one missing key defensive personnel like Wagner and Jalen Suggs.
But Mosley isn’t backing down from the challenge. In fact, he’s leaning into it.
“Defense,” Mosley emphasized. “It’s going to be very important for us-guys in, guys out, injuries, bodies beat up.
We’ve always talked about next man up, but also knowing who’s in that rotation with you, how to play alongside that guy, and being able to sit down and guard the right way. That’s what we really dove into today."
This is the kind of stretch that tests a team’s identity. It’s not just about who scores the most or who fills up the box score.
It’s about who communicates, who rotates, who fights through screens, who helps the helper. And for a Magic squad that’s built its early-season success on defensive toughness and togetherness, this is a moment to show it wasn’t a fluke.
With Wagner and Suggs both sidelined, the spotlight shifts to players like Paolo Banchero - not just to score, but to lead. He’ll need to lean on his teammates, and they’ll need to lean on each other.
Because in the NBA, adversity comes fast. The great teams don’t just survive it - they grow from it.
Orlando’s semifinal loss may have ended their NBA Cup hopes, but it delivered something just as valuable: a glimpse into what’s missing, and what needs to be sharpened if this team wants to make real noise come playoff time.
The next step? Taking those lessons into Denver - and proving they can still bring the fight, even when they’re not at full strength.