Moe Wagner 'Energy' Helps Magic Win vs. Cavaliers

Orlando Magic center Moe Wagner made an impact in the team's win against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jeremy Brener | Apr 27, 2024

Apr 27, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic center Moritz Wagner (21) drives to the hoop past / Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

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ORLANDO — The Orlando Magic have parlayed the energy from the Kia Center to win two consecutive games to tie up their series with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

A big catalyst of that energy is backup center Moe Wagner, who has made his presence felt throughout the series.

“It’s who he is. I mean, he plays with a ton of energy, a ton of enthusiasm," coach Jamahl Mosley said postgame. "You talk about the joy that you need to have playing this game, he does it. He plays it with a chip, he plays it with aggression and a fearlessness. I think our fans recognize that. The passion that he has for the game is the same passion that they have for this team, which you love about this community and how much they continue to support us.”

Wagner's impact doesn't always show in the stat sheet. He scored just seven points in 15 minutes during Saturday's Game 4 win, but he doesn't need to make shots in order to have an impact. He's the team's emotional leader, and you can sense that when he checks into the game. The Kia Center crowd always seemed to have louder cheers for him than his teammates.

But it's because he plays each possession like it's his last. He's giving maximum effort on every play because that's who he is. And the Magic are where they are because of that.

Related stories on the Orlando Magic

GAME 4 RECAP: The Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers are all tied up after Saturday's Game 4 victory. CLICK HERE

HOW MAGIC TURNED IT AROUND ON OFFENSE: The Orlando Magic's offense rebounded in their 121-83 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday in Game 3 of the first round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs. CLICK HERE

PAOLO MAKES HISTORY: Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero is doing big things in his first playoffs. CLICK HERE

SHOTS MUST FALL: The Orlando Magic need their offense to produce if they want to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers. CLICK HERE

DEFENSE MAKES HISTORY: The Orlando Magic had a historic second half in their Game 3 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. CLICK HERE

Published Apr 27, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.