The Orlando Magic will be without Franz Wagner on Wednesday night after all.
The Magic ruled Wagner out for their Game 5 matchup with the Detroit Pistons due to a calf strain, head coach Jamahl Mosley confirmed ahead of the game on Wednesday afternoon.
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Wagner sustained the injury late in Monday’s Game 4 win over Detroit that gave Orlando a 3-1 series lead. He was considered questionable on Tuesday, but clearly wasn’t ready to go in time in Detroit.
Wagner has averaged 16.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.8 steals during the first-round series. He’s been instrumental for the 8th-seeded Magic, who are one win away from an upset of the top-seeded Pistons in the first round.
Losing Wagner for Game 5 is a significant blow for the Magic as they look to close out the Pistons. Calf strains are injuries that can linger, and teams tend to take extra caution due to the extra stress they put on Achilles tendons.
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Wagner’s strain, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania, wasn’t significant enough for the Magic to rule him until medical staff evaluate how he responds to treatment.
Wagner left in the second half of Monday’s game with the injury. He spent time on a sideline exercise bike while he was considered questionable to return, but was ultimately limited to 24 minutes. He told reporters after the game he was scheduled to have an MRI on Tuesday. The Magic went on to a 94-88 victory despite his injury.
Wagner is Orlando’s No. 2 option behind All-Star Paolo Banchero. Injuries, including a high-ankle sprain, limited him to 34 games during the regular season. He averaged 20.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game when healthy.
His return to the lineup is a big reason why the Magic are challenging to become the seventh No. 8 seed in NBA history to beat a No. 1 seed in the playoffs.