Orlando forward Franz Wagner has cleared contact drills and practiced with the club’s G League affiliate, a significant step after a left high-ankle sprain sidelined him for 20 straight games and limited him to four appearances since December 7. With nine games left in the regular season, head coach Jamahl Mosley said Wagner does not need to log any specific number of contests to be eligible for postseason play: “If he’s available, he’s playing.”
The Magic continue to monitor two other rotation pieces. Rookie guard Anthony Black (left lateral abdominal strain) sat out his 11th consecutive game Thursday, while forward Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain) missed an eighth straight outing. Both are completing light on-court work but have not been cleared for contact, according to Mosley.
Jalen Suggs returned from a two-game absence caused by illness and rejoined the starting lineup Thursday, logging 34 minutes in a 121-117 win over Sacramento. Although he finished with eight points on 3-of-8 shooting, the guard buried a three-pointer with 27 seconds remaining to push the lead to four. “Huge shot,” teammate Desmond Bane said. “It’s good to have him back.”
Recently converted from a two-way deal to a standard contract, forward Jamal Cain has averaged 10.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, and an 8-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio over his last four games. He scored 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting in Thursday’s victory, drawing praise from Paolo Banchero for his “big-time energy plays.” Orlando holds a minimum-salary team option on Cain for the 2026-27 season.
Source: Hoops Rumors
