Magic lose Franz Wagner to torn oblique, exactsame injury that sidelined Paolo Banchero

Franz Wagner stepped up in numerous methods for the Orlando Magic when All-Star forward Paolo Banchero tore his oblique.

And now, Wagner has the verysame injury.

Wagner has a torn right oblique in a squashing blow for a group that endured the loss of Banchero and will play in the NBA Cup quarterfinals — however now will be without their second-leading scorer for at least 4 weeks and mostlikely longer.

“Wagner will be out forever and his return to play will depend on how he reacts to treatment,” the Magic stated Saturday in a declaration revealing the injury. “He will be re-evaluated in 4 weeks.”

Wagner was hurt in Friday’s loss at Philadelphia. He began each of Orlando’s initially 25 videogames this season, a big factor why the group is off to a 16-9 start.

Wagner, without concern, hasactually been Orlando’s finest gamer in the 20 videogames the group has played giventhat Banchero got hurt in late October, averaging 26.1 points, 6 rebounds and 6.3 helps in that period — leading the Magic to a 13-7 record in those contests, 13-3 in their last 16 videogames.

He appeared headed towards his veryfirst All-Star choice and was an early prospect for the league’s most enhanced gamer award this season.

“All-Star,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley shouted earlier this week as he strolled towards Wagner speaking with a group of pressreporters. “I’m informing the fact. All-Star.”

All that appears in jeopardy now. If the injuries are comparable — there’s no method of understanding how much muchfaster or slower Wagner’s healing procedure will be compared to Banchero’s, which is continuous — then Wagner’s candidateship for end-of-season awards such as the MIP honor would be in jeopardy duetothefactthat of the NBA guideline needing gamers appear in at least 65 videogames to be qualified for such honors.

Banchero will missouton his 21st videogame of the season when Orlando hosts Phoenix on Sunday. The Magic are confident that he might return by the end of the month.

Reporting by The Associated Press.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]