The Orlando Magic have seen their share of unfortunate injury luck this season. While they recently welcomed Paolo Banchero back in the lineup, and as well as getting Franz Wagner back from injury, they suffered another injury scare on Saturday.
Banchero, Wagner and Suggs collectively made eight consecutive shots without a miss in a 20-4 run to break open a tight game. Wagner, 1-for-12 from the field through the first three quarters, made nine of 10 shots in the final period for 25 points.
Pistons: Losing for only the second time in their last nine road games, the Pistons held the Magic to 18 points in the first quarter before fouls took their toll. The Magic shot 23 free throws in the first half, 38 in the game, and three Pistons finished the game with five fouls each.
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs was a participant in the Magic's Saturday morning shootaround, expressing upfront joy and excitement about his potential return from a 10-game low back strain-caused absence versus the Detroit Pistons.
Franz Wagner’s Jan. 25 performance against the Detroit Pistons is forever etched into the Orlando Magic’s history books. With a 25-point fourth quarter, the budding superstar tied Tracy McGrady’s franchise record for most points in a single quarter.
The Magic went 7-13 without Franz Wagner, who played the expected 24 minutes on Thursday. Orlando also lost center Moritz Wagner, Franz’s older brother, to a season-ending knee injury, and Suggs, who missed his 10th game with a lower back strain.
Franz Wagner scored 25 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter as the Orlando Magic snapped a five-game losing streak with a 121-113 win over the visiting Detroit Pistons on Saturday.