Magic’s Moe Wagner out for season with torn ACL: Can Orlando maintain its momentum?

ORLANDO, Fla. — How many more injuries can the Orlando Magic withstand?

The Magic have confronted that question since the first full week of the 2024-25 NBA regular season, and now the team must do so yet again.

Center Moe Wagner has suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee, the team announced Sunday. Wagner sustained the injury early in Saturday’s epic Magic comeback victory over the Miami Heat in Orlando.

In a pure basketball sense, Wagner’s absence will be difficult to fill. He had emerged as a potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate this season, averaging 12.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists in just under 19 minutes per game.

But Wagner’s impact transcends simple stats, as impressive as they are. On a roster whose togetherness resembles that of a college team of yesteryear, Magic players regard Wagner as a crucial connector, morale setter and energy contributor. After their pulse-pounding 121-114 win Saturday, players and head coach Jamahl Mosley acknowledged that Wagner’s injury mitigated their joy.

“We all felt it when Moe went down,” veteran guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said.

Orlando is already dealing with significant injuries to its two best players: forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. Banchero tore an oblique muscle on Oct. 30 and hasn’t played since. The 23-year-old Wagner, who is Moe’s younger brother and was on track to earn All-Star consideration, suffered the same injury as Banchero on Dec. 6.

Banchero hasn’t yet started contact work, but he is shooting. Mosley and team officials said the speed of Banchero’s return will depend on how quickly can regain his conditioning.

In the meantime, however, Orlando, buoyed by one of the league’s best defenses, has fared shockingly well despite Banchero’s lengthy absence and Franz Wagner’s recent ailment. The Magic own an 18-12 record and sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings.