ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) \u2014 Moritz Wagner got a rousing ovation when he got off the Orlando bench late in the first quarter Sunday against New Orleans. By Sunday night he was on his way home to Germany with his Magic teammates.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt a little corny. I\u2019m not going to lie,\u201d the 6-foot-11 center said after playing 10 minutes in his first NBA game in more than a year. \u201cI honestly try to stay away from the emotional part the best that I can. Obviously, means a lot to me. I\u2019m kind of relieved now to get it over with, and now we can just act like it never happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Going home to Europe to play two games against the Memphis Grizzlies means just as much to his brother, Franz, who has not played in more than a month because of a high ankle sprain.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll get back as soon as I can. Hopefully that\u2019ll be in Berlin,\u201d Franz said. \u201cRegardless of whether I play or not, it\u2019s going to be a true full-circle moment for Mo and I, growing up and going as little kids to that gym to watch he pros play. Playing an NBA game there is pretty special for us, and we\u2019re going to appreciate the opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mo Wagner tore his left ACL on Dec. 21, 2024, and had surgery 18 days later. Franz Wagner was averaging 22.7 points and 6.1 rebounds when he sustained the high ankle sprain Dec. 7. He has missed 16 games and the Magic lost eight of them.<\/p>\n
Mo Wagner\u2019s cameo return, which came 5,000 miles away from home Sunday, gave his team a spark before the long trans-Atlantic flight.<\/p>\n