ORLANDO, Fla. — Add Moritz Wagner to Orlando’s rapidly expanding injury list.
The Magic’s backup center and older brother of injured forward Franz Wagner suffered a potentially serious injury to his left knee with 2:33 left in the first quarter of Saturday night’s game against the Miami Heat.
The Magic won again, 121-114, but the euphoria of their comeback was tempered by the prospect of a long absence for a player they consider a candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
“We’re all praying for him. This was for Mo,” center Goga Bitadze said. “It’s really bad to see one of our brothers go down. Like we’re saying, ‘Next man up.’ But this guy deserved better than this.”
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley opened his postgame comments with an emotional announcement that he could not answer questions about the 6-foot-11 Wagner. The team said Wagner will undergo additional evaluation on Sunday.
Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero, Orlando’s two leading scorers, will be out for a long time due to torn obliques. Banchero missed his 25th game Saturday night and Franz Wagner missed his fifth game. The Magic also played Saturday without guard Jalen Suggs, who was out late after injuring his ankle in a game against Oklahoma City on Thursday night.
Mo Wagner’s knee buckled on a drive to the basket. He came down, they helped him off the floor and took him to the locker room.
He averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds in total playing 19.4 minutes per game. He has played in all 29 of the Magic’s games this season and only missed two games last season.
“I think he was going to be the Sixth Man of the Year. Hopefully, he can come back and retake that spot,” said Cole Anthony, who led Orlando’s big comeback on Saturday night.
“I call it a one-man army,” Bitadze said. “We were all playing for Mo. If you look at the crazy numbers he’s had this season. Sixth man, definitely.”
