Magic vs. Nets Preview: Orlando Looks to Bounce Back Without Franz Wagner
After a rough night in Oklahoma City, the Orlando Magic return home Thursday night looking to get back on track against the Brooklyn Nets. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Kia Center, and while the Magic are favored by 8.5 points, they’ll once again be without a key piece of their core.
Injury Report: Wagner Still Sidelined
Franz Wagner remains out with an ankle injury, a blow to Orlando’s offensive rhythm and perimeter defense. The versatile forward has been a steady presence all season, and without him, the Magic will need continued production from Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs to carry the load.
Here’s the full injury report for both teams:
Magic
- Colin Castelton: Out (G League)
- Franz Wagner: Out (Ankle)
Nets
- Ochai Agbaji: Out (Not With Team)
- Tyson Etienne: Out (G League)
- Haywood Highsmith: Out (Knee)
- Chaney Johnson: Out (G League)
- E.J.
Liddle: Out (Two-way)
- Cam Thomas: Out (Personal reasons)
Brooklyn is also dealing with a lengthy injury list, including the absence of Cam Thomas, who has been one of their top scoring options. His absence, along with several others, leaves the Nets shorthanded heading into a matchup against a Magic team eager to respond after their worst loss of the season.
Last Time Out: A Night to Forget in OKC
Orlando is coming off a 128-92 loss to the Thunder - a game that got away early and never came back. Oklahoma City sprinted out to a 39-14 lead in the first quarter and never looked back, handing the Magic their largest margin of defeat this season.
Isaiah Hartenstein notched his first career triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, leading a Thunder team that had six players score in double figures. Isaiah Joe poured in 22 points on 5-of-8 shooting from deep, while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 points in just 27 minutes.
For Orlando, Jalen Suggs led the way with 20 points and six assists, and Paolo Banchero chipped in 17. But the Magic shot just 38.2% from the field and never found their footing on either end.
After the game, Suggs didn’t sugarcoat things: “They were better in every area,” he said. “Pace, physicality, execution - everything. You’ve got to come out and fight from the jump, and we just didn’t do that.”
Tonight’s Matchup: A Chance to Reset
The good news for Orlando? They’ve been strong at home this season, and the Nets come in banged up and missing key rotation players. With Wagner out, expect the Magic to lean heavily on their young core once again.
Projected Starters
Magic
- G Anthony Black
- G Jalen Suggs
- C Wendell Carter Jr.
- F Desmond Bane
- F Paolo Banchero
Nets
- F Noah Clowney
- F Michael Porter Jr.
- C Nic Claxton
- G Egor Demin
- G Nolan Traore
Coach Jamahl Mosley addressed the recent trade of Tyus Jones, emphasizing the human element of the business: “You’ve got to talk about the business side of things, not just basketball. Then you’ve got to move forward and play a very tough and physical Brooklyn team tonight.”
That’s the challenge for Orlando - to move forward. To shake off a tough loss, regroup without one of their best players, and take care of business at home. The Nets may be depleted, but they’re still scrappy, and the Magic can’t afford another slow start.
This one’s about resiliency. Let’s see how Orlando responds.