Magic forward Franz Wagner could only watch from the bench as Orlando dropped its second game in a row Tuesday night at Kia Center against the defending champion Thunder.
Whether Wagner is able to re-join his teammates on the floor sometime in the final stretch of the regular season remains to be seen, as he continues his extended rehab of a high left ankle sprain.
Tuesday’s matchup with Oklahoma City, which the Magic lost by five points, 113-108, after they trailed by as many as 18 in the first half, marked the 40th game Wagner missed this year due to what he described as a “very frustrating process.”
“Going into it, I was kind of expecting to feel really good within like 4-6 weeks of the injury,” Wagner told the Orlando Sentinel in the locker room after Tuesday’s game about the injury he suffered Dec. 7 at New York. “And obviously that wasn’t how I felt. So, I think that’s always frustrating probably not just for me (but) for everybody involved.”
That frustration stems from the fact he’s already attempted to come back twice: First for a pair of games in Europe in mid-January and then again for two home games against the Bucks ahead of the NBA All-Star break.
After both instances, pain from the injury returned, indicating he needed more time to properly heal while dealing with the first high ankle sprain in his career.
“I think it was a little special circumstances with the Berlin game,” he said. “I take responsibility for playing in that game and really pushing to play in that game, and it was probably a little too soon. And then, super frustrating for me to do it a second time around and still not feel up to par prior to the All-Star break.
“So, it’s been a tough year,” he added. “Obviously I’ve got great respect for everybody here and I think we’re just trying to make best out of the situation.”
Time, however, is running out for that to be accomplished this season.
The playoffs begin a month from Wednesday and there are only 14 games remaining in the regular season for the Magic, starting Thursday at Charlotte.
“Yeah, I think that’s the nature of this thing — I feel pressure,” he said. “I put a lot of pressure on myself to play in that game in Berlin. I want to be available for the team and help my team win, regardless of how many games are left in the season honestly.
“Obviously it gets more pressing and pressing by the day, but at this point, I’ll be honest, I just want to be healthy and 100% and really finish the rehab,” he added. “Can’t do any half-rehabs anymore.”
Last Wednesday, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said Wagner was doing some on-court work but no contact yet. Before Tuesday’s game, Mosley shared that Wagner had begun doing “a little light contact” on the floor “but that’s about where he is right now.”
Wagner shared more details about the work he’s done and the steps remaining.
“I’ve been doing some more intense workouts on the court,” he said. “I haven’t played live yet so hopefully that’s in the near future for me. I can’t really put a time thing on it, but (I’ve) definitely been working really hard to get back on the court.”
The Magic are 16-12 with Wagner available this season and, after a recent seven-game winning streak, they’re 22-18 without him.
But after back-to-back losses against the Hawks and Thunder, Orlando could use Wagner’s skillset on both ends of the court. He’s averaged 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals during 31.8 minute night across 28 games this season.
“I feel like I’m progressing well and haven’t had pain really in my rehab, so that’s a good sign,” he said.
In addition to Wagner, the Magic have also been without Anthony Black the past six games due to a left lateral abdominal strain. Mosley said Tuesday night Black “hasn’t touched the floor, really, at all,” and that he’s done some “light movements” in the weight room.
Veteran forward Jonathan Isaac, who was wearing a knee brace on Tuesday, has also missed the last three games because of a left knee sprain.
But Orlando doesn’t feel discouraged by the results of the past two games. The Magic (38-30) still entered Wednesday’s slate of games sixth in the East, only half-a-game back of No. 5 Toronto (38-29) and just half-a-game in front of No. 7 Miami (38-31).
Their next opponent is Charlotte (35-34), which sat 10th but had won seven of its past 10 contests. Although the Magic defeated the Hornets in the sixth game of the season on the road, Charlotte has beaten Orlando handily the last two times they met at Kia Center (first by 15 points Dec. 26 and then again by 27 on Jan. 22).
“Our mindset is in the right spot,” Magic guard Desmond Bane said. “We just won seven games in a row. We lost to an Atlanta team that won 10 in a row and the team that’s got the best record in the league. So, I don’t think we need to start hanging our heads or anything.
“We’ve just got to go and get a game against Charlotte.”
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
Magic at Hornets
When: 7 p.m., Thursday, Spectrum Center
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida/NBA TV