Magic's Franz Wagner available after 22-game absence
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner is available to play Wednesday versus the Atlanta Hawks after missing the last 22 games with a high ankle sprain.
Wagner's last appearance came Feb. 11 against the Milwaukee Bucks. He had another 16-game absence earlier this season dealing with the same injury.
Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley told reporters pregame they'll be "very diligent" with how they'll handle Wagner's minutes, according to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel.
"At the end of the day, he's worked his tail off to get back. We know what he's capable of doing," Mosley said, per Beede.
Orlando went 12-10 during his most recent absence, including losses in seven of its past nine games.
Wagner has been productive when healthy, averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals across 28 appearances this season. His assist percentage (18%) ranks in the 84th percentile among all wings, per Cleaning the Glass.
The Magic (40-35) sit eighth in the Eastern Conference entering Wednesday's play, two games back of the sixth-seeded Toronto Raptors.