Franz Wagner and the Orlando Magic suffered a 106-100 road loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday, Dec. 7. But the biggest loss for the Magic may have come when Wagner left the game with a lower left leg injury.
The German forward was attempting an alley-oop on a fast break but was fouled by Ariel Hukporti with 4:43 left in the first quarter.
Wagner’s knee appeared to buckle upon landing, and he lay on the court before he was helped off. He was seen limping back to the locker room and did not return to the game.
Franz Wagner injury update
Wagner is expected to undergo an MRI once the team returns to Orlando, according to the team.
‘You never want to see anybody go down, but that hurt my heart, watching him hit the floor,’ Magic coach Jamahl Mosley told reporters after the game. ‘Now I’m just praying that everything is going to be OK with him, but we just don’t like to see that happen to him, especially (Wagner), who does everything the right way at all times he’s on the floor.’
Franz Wagner stats
Wagner has averaged 23.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals in 23 games this season, while shooting .487 from the field and .354 from 3-point range. He leads the team in scoring, field goals made (8.0 per game), field goals attempted (16.4 per game) and minutes (34.5 per game).
He has spent his entire career with Orlando after the Magic selected him with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He made the All Rookie first team at the end of that season.
In 4-plus seasons in the league, Wagner is averaging 19.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.0 steals, while shooting .475 from the field, .324 from 3-point range and .852 from the free throw line.