Magic center Moe Wagner nears season debut in return from ACL tear
The Magic have missed Wagner's scoring, rebounding and relentless energy during his nearly 13-month absence.
A key reserve is about to return for the Orlando Magic at a time when the Magic desperately need him.
The Magic have listed center Moe Wagner on their injury report as probable to play Sunday, when they host the New Orleans Pelicans at the Kia Center.
Wagner tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on Dec. 21, 2024, and has been sidelined ever since.
The Magic have missed Wagner’s scoring, rebounding and relentless energy during his nearly 13-month absence. He had emerged as an NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate before his injury last season, averaging 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds and shooting a career-best 36.0 percent from 3-point range.
Wagner has made steady, but significant, progress in recent weeks. Several days ago in Washington, the team’s coaching and training staffs put the 28-year-old through an hour-long individual workout at Capital One Arena, with Wagner reporting no complications.
It’s little surprise that Wagner and team officials have determined he is ready to play. On Thursday, the Magic will play the Memphis Grizzlies in Wagner’s hometown of Berlin, at Uber Arena. Participating in a regular-season NBA game in Germany would be beyond meaningful for Wagner and his 24-year-old younger brother and teammate, Franz Wagner.
The Magic and Grizzlies will face each other again on Jan. 18 in London at The O2 arena.
Franz Wagner suffered a left high-ankle sprain on Dec. 7 and hasn’t played since. The Magic have listed the younger Wagner as out for Sunday’s game against the Pelicans. He has ramped up his on-court activity recently, with that activity including an individual workout in Washington several days ago.
Orlando entered the season expecting to contend at least for home-court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, and the team appeared on track to do so until injuries hit yet again. Entering Dec. 7, the Magic had won seven of their last nine games and held a 14-9 record. Then, Franz Wagner got hurt during a nationally televised game at Madison Square Garden.
The Magic have not won consecutive games since a three-game winning streak between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1. Orlando holds a 21-18 record and sits in eighth place in the East.
The Magic have also been hurt by the recent absence of point guard Jalen Suggs, who has been listed as out for Sunday’s game as he continues to recover from a contusion that has impacted the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.