Coming off a win against the Suns yesterday, the Orlando Magic are looking to make it two straight to close their final back-to-back set of the season.
With the team worn down going against a tough Hawks squad, the odds are stacked against Orlando tonight, but there is hope that the return of Franz Wagner can help spark a last-minute run. According to the latest update from Marc Spears, the young swingman is set to return after missing the previous 22 games with a left ankle sprain.
With Desmond Bane, Jalen Suggs, and Paolo Banchero, the Magic have managed to stay afloat to the point where a win today could move them to within half a game of the top six. Still, they have struggled to string together long win streaks, and Wagner’s return brings much-needed firepower.
Even at 24-years-old, he brings a steady source of scoring to the rotation with reliable shooting and elite ball handling for his position. He makes the perfect fit next to Banchero, and his presence elevates the Magic’s potential in an area where they have consistently struggled over the past few years (offense).
While some critics claim he isn’t playing up to expectations, the Magic are clearly a better team when he’s on the floor, and they cannot be overlooked when things are clicking. Finally, for the first time in weeks, we will see them fully whole again, and it’s their best chance to get right before the stakes get higher later this month.
As for Wagner, the 6’9″ forward has been limited to just 28 games this season, but that’s still enough to put up an impressive stat line of 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game on 47.9% shooting and 36.5% shooting from three. While ankle injuries can be notoriously tricky, Wagner seems to have completed his rehab without any major complications, giving him a runway to ramp up into action before the NBA playoffs.
At 40-35, the Magic only have seven games left to play (including tonight’s showdown), but these may be the most important games of the season. If they can win out this final slate, or at least go 5-2, it could be just enough to stamp their ticket to their first round and avoid that dreaded play-in tournament. After that, anything is possible.
Specifically, this game against the Hawks will be important in achieving that goal. Between Wagner, Paolo, and Desmond Bane, they have the tools to get the job done, and if they win, it puts them in play to secure a spot within the top six. If not, the Magic will have to take the harder road to the playoffs.
Either way, after trading the farm to get Desmond Bane last summer, the Magic want to see results, and that means getting at least to the Eastern Semi-Finals. Unless they want to match up against the Pistons or Celtics, their best bet is going to be falling into the sixth seed for a match-up against the New York Knicks.
That urgency is likely why Wagner is returning instead of just shutting down for the season. He knows what’s at stake, and he recognizes the rare opportunity in front of him. Now all that’s left to do is capitalize on that opportunity and make a run that nobody saw coming.
