{"id":223815,"date":"2026-04-08T20:00:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T20:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/223815\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T20:00:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T20:00:07","slug":"orlando-magic-aiming-to-make-most-of-nba-regular-season-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/223815\/","title":{"rendered":"Orlando Magic aiming to make most of NBA regular season end"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wednesday marked the final home game of the regular season for the Magic<\/a> as the team continues to make a push toward the NBA playoffs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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

Even the players themselves can\u2019t believe there\u2019s just a matter of days remaining in the regular season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s crazy,\u201d Magic forward Franz Wagner<\/a> said after Wednesday morning shootaround at the AdventHealth Training Center. \u201cWhen you\u2019re in the season, it always goes by slowly and then when it\u2019s almost over, you ask where the time went. But (it\u2019s) a big week for us, and hopefully we can finish the season well.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Wagner specifically, time feels distorted. In total he\u2019s missed 48 games because of a high left ankle sprain suffered Dec. 7, and he\u2019s working to recapture some sort of flow with only two regular season contests remaining after Wednesday.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor sure,\u201d when asked if he feels like he\u2019s playing catchup with the rest of his team. \u201c(With) rehab, you still go through a process, and that can be tough mentally as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I haven\u2019t been in a playing rhythm for a normal season, and that\u2019s part of it too, sometimes,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s done in multiple games now. Improving his conditioning level is an ongoing process as well.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a chance at the postseason,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s important. And then, I love to play basketball. I\u2019m never going to sit out a game on purpose even though I could play. So, I think looking back on that season, that wouldn\u2019t sit well with me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wagner\u2019s not wrong about Orlando\u2019s chance at the postseason. After the Hornets fell to the Celtics on Tuesday night, the Magic entered Wednesday\u2019s slate of games in eighth in the East and able to secure that spot if they win out.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Entering Wednesday, the Magic \u2014 along with the Hawks, Raptors, Sixers and Hornets \u2014 could still finish anywhere from spots 5-9 in the conference. Of those five teams, however, only Atlanta couldn\u2019t finish 10th. Meanwhile, No. 10 Miami can only end 7-10.<\/p>\n

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley<\/a> tries not to focus on the various scenarios.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou think about it for a second, then you get away from it and say all we can do is control what we do,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd that\u2019s it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Beyond reacting to the standings, the Magic coach offered multiple injury updates after shootaround. Wendell Carter Jr.<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he\u2019ll be fine,\u201d Mosley said about the Magic center who wore goggles previously in his career to protect his eyes. \u201cHe\u2019s had to wear one before, so I think he\u2019s kind of used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Carter and forward Jamal Cain<\/a> (left calf bruise) went through shootaround, but the same couldn\u2019t be said for Jett Howard<\/a> (left ankle sprain) and Jonathan Isaac<\/a> (left knee sprain).<\/p>\n

Howard hasn\u2019t been on the floor yet, and Isaac is only doing light movement but no still contact work, Mosley said.<\/p>\n

But with Wagner and Anthony Black back, as well as Carter and Cain on the mend, Orlando\u2019s overall health is trending up as the regular season winds down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s always great when almost everyone\u2019s healthy,\u201d Wagner said. \u201cThat does give the whole team a big boost mentally.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have a lot of time left so we\u2019ve got to use every game here to get better and hopefully set us up really well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Up next \u2026<\/p>\n

Magic at Bulls<\/p>\n

When: 8 p.m., Friday, United Center<\/p>\n

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