Milwaukee Bucks v Orlando Magic Franz Wagner
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Franz Wagner returned from injury and made an immediate impact, scoring 14 off the bench in a win over Milwaukee.
Star forward Franz Wagner didn’t wait long to remind everyone what the Orlando Magic have been missing. In his first game back from a high ankle sprain, Wagner came off the bench for the first time in his NBA career and delivered 14 points in just 17 minutes, helping the Magic cruise past the Milwaukee Bucks at the Kia Center.
It marked Wagner’s first appearance since Jan. 18, ending a stretch in which he missed 25 of Orlando’s last 27 games. All 317 of his previous NBA appearances had come as a starter. This one came with a minutes restriction and a different routine but the impact was immediate.
“I feel good,” Wagner said postgame. “I think I feel as I should at this point, you know what I mean? Obviously still working my way back and obviously got to find a rhythm out there. But pleased with how I played and hopefully could help the group win.”
He did exactly that.
A Different Role, Same Impact
Wagner attacked downhill, created opportunities for teammates, and provided a scoring lift for a second unit that helped swing momentum early. His return also gave Orlando another offensive organizer on the floor, something the team has lacked during its injury-riddled stretch.
The Magic were led by Anthony Black, who poured in 26 points on 8-of-13 shooting. Desmond Bane added 25 on an ultra-efficient 8-of-11 from the field. Wagner and his brother each chipped in 14 points off the bench, while Paolo Banchero battled through a tough shooting night (3-for-11) to finish with 11 points.
Orlando head coach Jamahl Mosley liked what he saw from Wagner in limited action.
“You know, he looked comfortable out there,” Mosley said. “Obviously, his wind is going to take some time, but his ability to get downhill, to play make, create for his teammates. I thought he did a great job of being aggressive and not letting things get to him.”
Wagner also addressed the adjustment of coming off the bench.
“It’s definitely different,” he said. “But I came off the bench before in my life so just trying to find other ways to obviously get ready and be ready once you get subbed in. Sometimes it’s fun to have a change of routine like that.”
That flexibility could be important as Orlando manages his ramp-up over the next week.
That aggressiveness mattered. Wagner could have waited until after the All-Star break, giving his ankle another 10 days to heal. Instead, he chose to return now to help Orlando stack wins during a critical stretch. The victory marked the Magic’s third straight as they continue to build momentum heading into the break.
Why Wagner’s Early Return Matters
Orlando remains seventh in the Eastern Conference, placing them in Play-In territory for the second straight season. But the gap is narrowing. The Magic are pressing the Philadelphia 76ers for positioning, hoping to climb high enough to avoid extra games and secure a cleaner playoff path.
The Magic have one more home matchup against Milwaukee before All-Star Weekend, and it remains unclear how heavy Wagner’s workload will be in that rematch. But the bigger picture is clear: Orlando needs its star forward healthy and operating at full speed if it wants to make a late-season push.
Monday night was a promising start. If Wagner continues trending upward, the Magic’s postseason ceiling rises with him.