Magic’s Franz Wagner can make preseason debut, Terrence Ross begins in acquire over Spurs

The Orlando Magic had a pair of lineup shakeups for their Thursday preseason matchup at the San Antonio Spurs.

Second-year forward Franz Wagner was accessible in opposition to the Spurs when Terrence Ross moved into the commencing lineup.

The moves helped, with the primary rotation keeping the video game shut plenty of in advance of the deep bench unit closed the game out on a 20-8 run to safe a 102-99 acquire.

Wagner, who was named to the 2021-22 All-Rookie very first staff and concluded fourth (two third-position votes) in voting for Rookie of the Yr that was awarded to Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes, sat out of the Magic’s preseason-opening loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

He started off along with Wendell Carter Jr. and Paolo Banchero, in the No. 1 pick in June’s NBA draft, in the frontcourt for the first time.

Carter finished with workforce-highs of 20 factors (8-13) and 10 rebounds for a double-double to go alongside with 3 helps and 2 blocks in 22 minutes. Wagner recorded 12 points (4-8) and 3 helps while Banchero experienced 9 points, 5 rebounds, 3 helps and 3 steals.

“You have fellas that can guard various positions, but also, you have 3 youthful men who can make good decisions,” coach Jamahl Mosley explained just after Thursday’s shootaround. “They’re all ball movers. They understand wherever men are on the flooring and they are willing passers. Which is these types of a fantastic blend to put out on the flooring for us.”

Wagner, Banchero and Carter have the possible to be the Magic’s prolonged-expression starting off frontcourt.

“The sky is the limit,” Carter stated of the trio. “Franz is a participant who performs the appropriate way. He performs to acquire. It’s actually quick actively playing with Franz. It’s P’s first yr, so he’s likely to go via things that all rookies go via. But at the very same time, he’s a phenomenal participant and he also performs to win.”

Ross started out in place of Cole Anthony, who was obtainable off the bench, alongside Jalen Suggs in the backcourt. Mo Bamba was obtainable off the bench after beginning against Memphis since of Wagner’s absence.

“Terrence has been excellent,” Mosley mentioned. “For these youthful men, he’s been a accurate professional. He opens the floor up mainly because groups have to honor and regard him. His voice has been fantastic. His steps have adopted his voice.”

Moe Wagner led the bench with 10 points (4-7) when R.J. Hampton had 8 details (4-7), 7 rebounds 3 helps and 3 steals.

Markelle Fultz (fractured big remaining toe), Gary Harris (still left knee rehabilitation), Jonathan Isaac (remaining knee rehabilitation), and Admiral Schofield (remaining knee contusion) keep on being sidelined.

The Magic are monitoring Franz Wagner’s preseason workload after a thirty day period-lengthy summer months run with Germany’s men’s countrywide basketball workforce, which bundled participating in in friendlies, 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers and EuroBasket 2022 — a event Germany received the bronze medal in right after defeating Poland on Sept. 18 at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin.

Franz Wagner averaged 15.2 points, 4 rebounds and 1.7 helps in 26.6 minutes (9 game titles) in EuroBasket.

Orlando will engage in the Mavericks in Dallas on Friday to wrap up the back again-to-again.

“We’ll make guaranteed he’s performing his way back the suitable way,” Mosley explained to the Orlando Sentinel. “It’s going to be [about] how his system responds to that 1st match more than everything.”

The Magic conclude their preseason slate with residence online games vs. the Grizzlies (Oct. 11) and Cleveland Cavaliers (Oct. 14).

This write-up very first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Electronic mail Khobi Cost at khprice@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @khobi_cost.

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