Markelle Fultz, Franz Wagner reinserted to Magic’s lineup vs. Nets

Guard Markelle Fultz and forward Franz Wagner were available and back in the starting lineup for the Orlando Magic’ s road game against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday after sitting out Thursday’ s home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Guard Gary Harris was also available off the bench. Guard Cole Anthony, who was available but didn’ t play against the Cavaliers, made...

Guard Markelle Fultz and forward Franz Wagner were available and back in the starting lineup for the Orlando Magic’s road game against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday after sitting out Thursday’s home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Guard Gary Harris was also available off the bench.

The Magic sat their starters in the loss to the Cavaliers, the first night of a back-to-back, opting for players who haven’t been in the rotation.

But a few of those players — including Fultz, Harris and Wagner — who didn’t get play on Thursday were back in the lineup against the Nets.

Guard Cole Anthony, who was available but didn’t play against the Cavaliers, made his fourth start of the season against the Nets alongside Fultz, Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Goga Bitadze.

“There’s always something to play for when you’re with a young group,” coach Jamahl Mosley said pregame. “That is teaching winning habits. Teaching how to play meaningful basketball this time of year. It’s not a light switch you can turn on and off.”

The change gave the Magic an opportunity to look at different lineups against a team still playing for something.

“It’s consistently going to be what we talked about: different lineups we want to see,” Mosley said. “Obviously going into the back-to-back, being able to look at it a different way and keep bodies as fresh as possible. It’s definitely a way to be able to look at these things.”

The Nets were looking to secure the No. 6 seed in the East and avoid the play-in tournament field of postseason play.

Forward Paolo Banchero (back tightness), center Wendell Carter Jr. (left hip soreness), forward Jonathan Isaac (season-ending left inner thigh surgery on March 3), Jay guard Scrubb (ineligible to play) and forward Moe Wagner (sprained right ankle) weren’t available.

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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