The Orlando Magic have struggled to stay healthy throughout the 2025-26 NBA season, and their troubles have continued into the final month before the playoffs. While Paolo Banchero is healthy and leading the team to success, Anthony Black and Franz Wagner have both been sidelined with no clear timetable for their eventual returns.
Black, who suffered a lower back strain two minutes into Saturday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, missed the Magic’s next game on Sunday night against the Milwaukee Bucks because of this back strain. However, Orlando announced Tuesday morning that the breakout guard would be sidelined with a lateral abdominal muscle strain. An injury that was discovered after an MRI.
His comeback will depend on how he responds to treatment.
This isn’t the best news for the Magic, especially since Black has produced a stellar third season and taken over as one of the team’s key guards. Abdominal injuries usually cause players to miss at least a week of action, but can sometimes take longer depending on the severity of the injury.
Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander recently missed nine games with an abdominal strain.
In 60 games this season, of which he has started 40, Black has averaged 15.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, while shooting 45.1 percent from the floor. He currently ranks fourth on the team in scoring this season and third in total points (917).
As far as Wagner is concerned, his left ankle sprain has been the downfall of his season. Wagner initially suffered an injury on December 7 against the New York Knicks and subsequently missed 16 consecutive games. Although he returned to play overseas in his hometown of Berlin on January 15 and again in London, England on January 18, Wagner then missed nine consecutive games.
He has been sidelined indefinitely since Feb. 11 after suffering a concussion and needs extra time after the All-Star break to fully recover. Following a recent re-evaluation of his ankle, the Magic have determined that Wagner is making progress, but still needs time to recover and reach his response to treatment.
Wagner has played only 28 games this year due to ankle trouble, averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.
No timetable has been given for Black or Wagner’s return to play, meaning both players are likely to be out for at least another week to see how they handle their respective injuries and if they can begin to make progress in on-court workouts.
Despite these two injury concerns as the Magic enter the final stretch of the regular season, the team has been having a lot of success recently due to Banchero’s leadership.
Orlando has won four games in a row and six of its last eight games overall. Banchero is averaging 27.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game during the team’s four-game winning streak. This earned Banchero consideration for the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award.
The Magic, who are 35-28 this season, will look to continue to maintain positive momentum and possibly move into the East playoff picture against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
As far as Black and Wagner are concerned, further updates on the injury status of both players will be provided by the team at a later date.
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