Franz Wagner bounces back as Magic kick off 4-game trip

Second-year forward Franz Wagner started in Tuesday’s road game against the San Antonio Spurs despite spraining his right ankle in Saturday’s home win over the Miami Heat.

Heat guard Kyle Lowry fell on Wagner’s ankle as both were running up the floor after a Miami missed basket with around nine minutes remaining in the game.

Play continued for about 20 seconds, with Wagner hobbling on the ankle until Magic coach Jamahl Mosley was able to call a timeout.

Wagner went back into the locker room to get checked out by the athletic trainer. The team announced he wouldn’t return.

The Magic said X-rays on Wagner’s ankle were negative, meaning no damage was shown, before adding the diagnosis was a sprain.

His status entering Saturday was questionable before being upgraded to available 1 1/2 hours ahead of tipoff.

Wagner’s missed just three games because of injury since being the No. 8 pick in the 2021 draft, all of which came at the end of last season because of a sprained right ankle.

The lone game he sat for this season was because of the suspensions given to multiple players after a Dec. 28 altercation between the Magic and Pistons in Detroit.

Wagner sprained his left ankle and had an early exit in a win over the Charlotte Hornets earlier in the month but was available for the next game.

Tuesday kicked off a four-game trip, with matchups against the Phoenix Suns (Thursday), Los Angeles Clippers (Saturday) and Los Angeles Lakers (Sunday) ahead.

This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Khobi Price at khprice@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_price.

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