Franz Wagner Injury Update – 5:33 p.m. ET – Franz Wagner (ankle) is available to play tonight vs. the Hawks, according to the Magic official Twitter account.
Wagner has only played in four games since December 7. In two games after returning from injury this year, Wagner played 27 (Berlin game) and 17 minutes.
The Orlando Magic are in a close race for the postseason in the Eastern Conference, sitting at 40-35 entering Wednesday’s play.
As Orlando attempts to ascend the standings, could one of its best players be returning to action? There’s a new development in SF Franz Wagner's status after an extended absence.
With that in mind, let’s dive into the latest Franz Wagner injury update, also weaving in how it could impact PrizePicks player projections for Hawks vs. Magic on Wednesday.
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Franz Wagner Injury Update vs. Hawks Tonight
Ahead of tip-off for Wednesday night’s 7:00 p.m. ET game against the visiting Atlanta Hawks, Wagner has been upgraded to questionable on the injury report.
This is a huge happening for the Magic for perhaps their second-best player. Wagner aggravated his left high-ankle sprain back on February 11, and he’s missed a staggering 22 games ever since.
Dating back to his initial injury on December 7, Wagner has appeared in just four contests for the Magic. The team is 26-25 after that point.
If the starting mark is the launch of last season, Orlando’s talented three-headed monster of PF Paolo Banchero, Wagner, and PG Jalen Suggs has played together in just 19 of 157 possible games. Should Wagner return to the lineup on Wednesday, it’d be a significant boost.
Franz Wagner Outlook for Hawks vs. Magic on Wednesday
What could be expected of Wagner if he does play vs. the Hawks? The answer is complicated.
On one hand, the former No. 8 overall NBA Draft pick is averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game this season. That’s while making 47.9% of his shots and 36.5% of his tries from deep, making him a model of efficiency for a squad that desperately needs it.
On the flip side, Wagner didn’t look like himself in the two separate times he’s previously attempted to come back. In the aforementioned four games on January 15-18 and February 9-11, he shot just 39.1% overall and put up all of 12.8 PPG. With that said, it’s sensible to assume that Orlando exercised patience to ensure he’s as close to 100% as possible for the stretch run.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the Magic are a half-game ahead of the Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets — both 40-36 — in the play-in race. They’re also a lone game behind the Philadelphia 76ers and two games behind the Hawks for the seventh and sixth seeds, respectively.
Should Wagner suit up against Atlanta, it’s worth monitoring whether head coach Jamahl Mosley has him on a minutes restriction.
Franz Wagner vs. Hawks Projections, Picks
Here are some top Franz Wagner projections vs. the Hawks tonight, via PrizePicks.
- 11.5 Points
- 2.5 Rebounds (Goblin)
- 1.5 Assists (Goblin)
- 16.5 Pts + Rebs + Asts
- And More
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Make Hawks vs. Magic Picks on PrizePicks
Regardless of whether Franz Wagner makes his return from an ankle injury on Wednesday, there are ample NBA projections fans can make the most of with PrizePicks.
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