By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a battle to secure the best possible seeding on the NBA Playoffs bracket, the Orlando Magic possibly placing Franz Wagner on the injury list can spell disaster.
Wagner, 22, sprained his right ankle in the third quarter of the game versus the Chicago Bulls in Kia Center on the latest edition of NBA Sundays. And did not return to the court. Lasting 20 minutes, he had 16 points, four rebounds, and three assists.
The initial X-rays were negative. Further evaluation will determine his status moving into the last four fixtures of the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season and a three-game road trip starting against the Houston Rockets in Toyota Center on Tuesday.
Besides the German forward, 26-year-old combo forward Jonathan Isaac was forced to an early exit due to a sore back. Also, 21-year-old forward Caleb Houstan missed a fourth consecutive game with a sprained right ankle. However, the team coached by Jamahl Mosley took down the Bulls and improved to 46-32.
Tied with the New York Knicks in third place of the Eastern Conference standings, the second-seeded Milwaukee Bucks are one game away and the fifth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers are half a game back. The Magic can land anywhere from second to the Play-Ins. Therefore, the second-leading scorer in Wagner avoiding a serious injury would certainly help the cause.
In his third NBA campaign, the former Michigan standout is averaging career-highs of 19.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per contest over 69 appearances, all starts.