Magic’s Franz Wagner Exits Early in New York With Lower Left Leg Injury
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Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner left Sunday’s matinee at Madison Square Garden after injuring his lower left leg late in the first quarter, the team announced.
The incident occurred on a fast-break sequence. Wagner poked the ball away from Knicks guard Jalen Brunson and sprinted ahead to the rim. Rookie guard Anthony Black lofted an alley-oop pass, but New York center Ariel Hukporti swatted the ball and was whistled for a foul. Wagner landed awkwardly, immediately clutched his left knee and remained on the floor for several minutes.
Hukporti, a fellow German, checked on Wagner as medical staff attended to him. Unable to put weight on the leg, Wagner was assisted to the locker room by his older brother Moritz Wagner and rookie Noah Penda. The Magic ruled him out for the remainder of the game and said he will be reevaluated when the team returns to Orlando.
The injury is a major concern for Orlando, which had just welcomed Paolo Banchero back from a groin strain two days earlier. Wagner, 24, entered Sunday averaging 23.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.2 steals while shooting 48.7% from the field, 35.4% from three and 82.3% from the free-throw line over 23 games (34.5 minutes). He has been playing with a protective face mask since breaking his nose in November and was recently nominated for Eastern Conference Player of the Month honors for October/November.
Source: Hoops Rumors
