Wednesday marked the final home game of the regular season for the Magic as the team continues to make a push toward the NBA playoffs.

After hosting the Timberwolves at Kia Center, Orlando travels to Chicago on Friday and Boston on Sunday to wrap up the regular season, with each game having an impact on the postseason race in the Eastern Conference.

Even the players themselves can’t believe there’s just a matter of days remaining in the regular season.

“It’s crazy,” Magic forward Franz Wagner said after Wednesday morning shootaround at the AdventHealth Training Center. “When you’re in the season, it always goes by slowly and then when it’s almost over, you ask where the time went. But (it’s) a big week for us, and hopefully we can finish the season well.”

For Wagner specifically, time feels distorted. In total he’s missed 48 games because of a high left ankle sprain suffered Dec. 7, and he’s working to recapture some sort of flow with only two regular season contests remaining after Wednesday.

In his first three games back from a third attempt returning to the floor, Wagner averaged 13.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists during a restricted 19 minutes per night.

“For sure,” when asked if he feels like he’s playing catchup with the rest of his team. “(With) rehab, you still go through a process, and that can be tough mentally as well.

“I feel like I haven’t been in a playing rhythm for a normal season, and that’s part of it too, sometimes,” he added.

Unlike the past two times he returned to the floor, Wagner said he feels good and his left leg has responded well to the work he’s done in multiple games now. Improving his conditioning level is an ongoing process as well.

Wagner was asked why it was important for him to make his way back despite two failed attempts and only a handful of games left in the regular season.

“We have a chance at the postseason,” he said. “That’s important. And then, I love to play basketball. I’m never going to sit out a game on purpose even though I could play. So, I think looking back on that season, that wouldn’t sit well with me.”

Wagner’s not wrong about Orlando’s chance at the postseason. After the Hornets fell to the Celtics on Tuesday night, the Magic entered Wednesday’s slate of games in eighth in the East and able to secure that spot if they win out.

That’s important because playing in the Nos. 7-8 game of the Play-In Tournament would give Orlando two cracks at earning a playoff spot as opposed to facing elimination immediately in the Nos. 9-10 Play-In game. The winner of the Nos. 9-10 game faces the loser of the Nos. 7-8 game for the No. 8 seed in the playoffs.

Entering Wednesday, the Magic — along with the Hawks, Raptors, Sixers and Hornets — could still finish anywhere from spots 5-9 in the conference. Of those five teams, however, only Atlanta couldn’t finish 10th. Meanwhile, No. 10 Miami can only end 7-10.

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley tries not to focus on the various scenarios.

“You think about it for a second, then you get away from it and say all we can do is control what we do,” he said. “And that’s it.”

Beyond reacting to the standings, the Magic coach offered multiple injury updates after shootaround. Wendell Carter Jr., who broke his nose against the Pistons on Monday, was wearing a mask during the session and will likely continue to wear one as the injury heals.

“I think he’ll be fine,” Mosley said about the Magic center who wore goggles previously in his career to protect his eyes. “He’s had to wear one before, so I think he’s kind of used to it.”

Both Carter and forward Jamal Cain (left calf bruise) went through shootaround, but the same couldn’t be said for Jett Howard (left ankle sprain) and Jonathan Isaac (left knee sprain).

Howard hasn’t been on the floor yet, and Isaac is only doing light movement but no still contact work, Mosley said.

But with Wagner and Anthony Black back, as well as Carter and Cain on the mend, Orlando’s overall health is trending up as the regular season winds down.

“I think it’s always great when almost everyone’s healthy,” Wagner said. “That does give the whole team a big boost mentally.

“We don’t have a lot of time left so we’ve got to use every game here to get better and hopefully set us up really well.”

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com

Up next …

Magic at Bulls

When: 8 p.m., Friday, United Center

TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida