The Orlando Magic’s worst fear was realized on Sunday afternoon when center Moritz Wagner suffered a left knee injury during the first quarter of Saturday’s game against the Miami Heat at the Kia Center.
Wagner underwent an MRI on Sunday, and the results confirmed that he had torn his left ACL, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel.
The 6-11 center will require surgery and will miss the rest of the 2024-25 season, the team confirmed in a statement.
This is a devastating blow for both Wagner and the Magic, adding to a growing list of long-term injuries for the team.
Head coach Jamahl Mosley was already managing without key players like star duo Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, both of whom are out indefinitely due to torn right abdominal muscles.
Additionally, Gary Harris, who has been sidelined for the last 11 games with a left hamstring strain, has further depleted the team’s depth. Jalen Suggs also missed Saturday’s game due to a right ankle sprain.
Despite these setbacks, the Magic (18-12) managed a remarkable 25-point comeback against the Heat to snap a three-game losing streak. However, the challenges are far from over.
Orlando will host the defending champion Boston Celtics on Monday, followed by another matchup with Miami at home on Thursday.
The Magic then face the New York Knicks the next night and finish their seven-game homestand against the Brooklyn Nets next Sunday.
Wagner had been one of just two players to appear in all 30 of the Magic’s games this season, alongside Anthony Black. Last season, Wagner played in 80 regular season games, setting a career-high.
This season, the 6-11 center, who re-signed with the Magic over the summer on a two-year, $22 million deal, was averaging 12.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 18.8 minutes per game.
As of Sunday’s games, he ranked second in the NBA for points scored off the bench (372) and 15th in field goal percentage.
Wagner led or tied the team in scoring once and in rebounding four times. He scored in double figures 23 times, surpassed 20 points twice, and reached over 30 points once, including a career-high 32 points against the New York Knicks on December 15.
Beyond his statistics, Wagner’s impact was often felt in intangible ways. His energetic reactions and unapologetic display of emotions on the court often energized his teammates and frustrated opponents, making him a vital spark off the bench for Orlando.
With the long recovery process ahead for Wagner, the Magic will have to cope with the absence of yet another key player, leaving them with 52 regular season games to navigate without one of their most influential contributors.
