ORLANDO, Fla. — Franz Wagner is poised to make his return to the Orlando Magic’s roster for their matchup against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday evening, after sitting out 20 games due to a torn oblique muscle.

Both Wagner and All-Star power forward Paolo Banchero will play together for only the sixth time this season. Banchero himself had been sidelined for 34 games with a similar injury before making his comeback in late December.

“It’s a huge development for us,” remarked Orlando’s head coach Jamahl Mosley. “The pieces are starting to come back together, and we’re gradually becoming whole again. With the high expectations he has set for himself as a leader, his return is going to be significant for our team.”

During Wagner’s absence, the Magic recorded a 7-13 win-loss record. He is anticipated to have a limited playing time of around 24 minutes on Thursday night. The team has also faced challenges with the loss of center Moritz Wagner, who is out for the season due to a knee injury, and guard Jalen Suggs, who is expected to miss his 10th consecutive game because of a lower back strain.
Before Franz Wagner’s injury, the Magic had a solid record of 16-9. The young forward had been showcasing impressive performance, scoring 30 or more points in eight out of 14 games prior to his setback and holding a remarkable average of 24.4 points per game, ranking him 16th in scoring across the NBA.