ORLANDO, FL – Devastating news struck on Sunday as the Orlando Magic announced that forward Franz Wagner would be sidelined for four to six weeks due to a torn right oblique muscle. The news came just days before the team was set to compete in the knockout round of the Emirates NBA Cup Tournament.
Wagner had stepped up as the team’s primary scorer and playmaker following Paolo Banchero’s similar injury over a month ago. During that stretch, the Magic went on an impressive winning streak, even advancing through the group stage of the tournament.
The Orlando Magic have emphasized the need to “Keep the standard” with a “play-by-committee” approach, often repeating the mantra “next man up” as they weathered a series of injuries to key players.
For anyone doubting the team’s resilience, Sunday evening provided a perfect example as the Magic defeated the Phoenix Suns 115-110 at the Amway Center in Downtown Orlando.
Other team members rose to the occasion to fill the void left by Wagner. Jalen Suggs delivered a standout performance, scoring 28 points and wreaking havoc on defense, particularly in the second half.
Goga Bitadze proved his value once again, contributing 21 points and an impressive 16 rebounds for the Magic.
Off the bench, Cole Anthony added 14 points, two blocks, and a steal, maintaining pressure on a Suns squad that was without star forward Kevin Durant.
The Magic limited their turnovers to 13, which led to 22 points for the Suns. However, their defensive effort and balanced contributions helped secure the victory.
The Suns entered the Kia Center looking for revenge after a recent loss to Orlando in Phoenix and pushed the Magic to the limit. Devin Booker led the way for Phoenix with 28 points, while Tyus Jones, who caused problems for Orlando in the first half, finished with 21 points.
Despite the Suns’ efforts, Orlando controlled key areas of the game. They outrebounded Phoenix 44-39 and dominated in the paint, scoring 48 points compared to the Suns’ 38.
Defense remained the cornerstone of the Magic’s success, and head coach Jamahl Mosley credited his team for staying true to their identity.
“It’s our defensive focus,” Mosley said. “Knowing what we need to do, following the game plan—it says a lot about the grit of this team. No matter what happens throughout the game, they have the mental strength to lock in during the fourth quarter. Holding them to 23 points in that final quarter says a lot about these guys digging in.
“There’s obviously a lot of pressure on Jalen right now to contribute offensively and defensively, but he’s always emphasized letting his defense lead to his offense.”
Though the Magic struggled defensively in the first half—allowing Phoenix to shoot 50% from the field and 56.2% from three-point range—Orlando’s ball pressure and size made a difference in the second half. The Suns committed 13 turnovers in the final two quarters, leading to 14 Magic points. For the game, Phoenix tallied 21 turnovers, resulting in 23 points for Orlando.
Suggs, who had a quiet first half, caught fire down the stretch. In the fourth quarter, the 6-foot-5 guard made four of his seven field-goal attempts, including two three-pointers, and went 5-of-6 from the free-throw line.
Bitadze’s dominance on the glass was another key factor. He grabbed nine offensive rebounds, including a critical one with 13 seconds left, which he converted into a putback to extend Orlando’s lead to five. Overall, the Magic scored 20 second-chance points.
The bench also played a pivotal role, outscoring the Suns’ reserves 46-23, with Anthony leading the charge.
Next up for the Magic is a trip to Milwaukee, where they will face the Bucks in the quarterfinals of the Emirates NBA Cup on Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.
