Magic’s Franz Wagner suffers the same injury as Paolo Banchero

PHILADELPHIA – The Magic received a shocking injury update after returning to Orlando early Saturday morning.

Magic forward Franz Wagner has been diagnosed with a torn right oblique muscle, the Sentinel has learned.

Wagner, who suffered the injury in the Magic’s 102-94 loss to the 76ers on Friday night, will be out indefinitely and his return to play will depend on how he responds to treatment.

He will be reevaluated in four weeks, announced Jeff Weltman, president of basketball operations, confirming the Sentinel’s reporting. ESPN first reported the injury.

It is also the same right abdominal injury that Wagner’s star colleague Paolo Banchero suffered on October 30th in Chicago.

Banchero has missed the last 20 games, but Wagner had progressed in his absence and was playing at an All-Star level. On Friday, he scored more than 30 points for his third and eighth consecutive contest of the season.

Orlando had put together two separate six-game winning streaks in the period since Banchero suffered his injury.

Now coach Jamahl Mosley has to deal with a difficult phase of the season without his two top players available.

The Magic host Phoenix on Sunday.

Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]

Originally published: December 7, 2024 at 4:11 pm EST