Orlando Magic Dealing with 'Bumps & Bruises' as Playoffs Draw Close

The Orlando Magic isn't at its healthiest going into the final week of the season.

Jeremy Brener | Apr 8, 2024

Apr 7, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) moves the ball around / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

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Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic is coming off a big win against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night, but it didn't come without a small price.

Star forward Franz Wagner left the game in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle, but initial X-rays were negative, which means he likely avoided major injury.

With the Magic one game back of the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, Wagner's injury couldn't come at a more inopportune time.

Apr 3, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac (1) during warmups / Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

“I mean, first, it’s the game of basketball. You know, there’s bumps and bruises all the time. You
know, trying to keep guys healthy, would love to but it is part of the game," coach Jamahl Mosley said postgame.

Wagner isn't the only one dealing with an injury. Jonathan Isaac played just five minutes after leaving the game with back pain while Caleb Houstan remains out with a sore ankle.

In order for the Magic to be at its best in the playoffs, Wagner and Isaac have to be healthy. Getting them to 100 percent should be top priority going into the final week of the season, while getting the No. 2 seed should come second.

The pressure is on and the games are increasing in importance, but coach Mosley is steering the ship as calm as he can.

Mosley and the Magic are back in action tomorrow night when they visit the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.

Published Apr 8, 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.