Add Moritz Wagner to the growing list of injuries for the Orlando Magic.
The team’s backup center, and older brother of injured forward Franz Wagner, suffered a potentially serious left knee injury with 2:33 remaining in the first quarter during Saturday night’s game against the Miami Heat.
Despite the Magic’s 121-114 comeback victory, the excitement was overshadowed by concerns over the possibility of a lengthy absence for a player who was considered a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
“We’re all praying for him. This one was for Mo,” said center Goga Bitadze. “It’s tough to see one of our brothers go down. As we’ve been saying, ‘Next man up,’ but this guy deserved better than this.”
Magic head coach Jamahl Mosely began his postgame remarks with an emotional update, stating that he couldn’t answer questions about the 6-foot-11 Wagner. The team announced Wagner will undergo further evaluation on Sunday.
Orlando’s top two scorers, Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, are both out for an extended period due to torn obliques. Banchero missed his 25th game on Saturday night, while Franz Wagner sat out his fifth game. Additionally, the Magic were without guard Jalen Suggs on Saturday, as he was a late scratch due to an ankle injury sustained during Thursday night’s game against Oklahoma City.
Mo Wagner’s knee gave out while driving to the basket, causing him to fall to the floor. He was quickly assisted off the court and taken directly to the locker room.
Wagner had been averaging 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds while playing 19.4 minutes per game. He had appeared in all 29 Magic games this season and missed only two games last season.
“I thought he was on track to be Sixth Man of the Year. Hopefully, he can come back and still achieve that,” said Cole Anthony, who played a key role in Orlando’s comeback victory on Saturday.
“He’s a one-man army,” Bitadze added. “We were all playing for Mo. When you look at his impressive numbers this season, he definitely deserved Sixth Man honors.”
