A silver lining in misfortune! Franz Wagner has a high left ankle sprain and is expected to be sidelined for 2-4 weeks with no structural damage.

On December 9th, Beijing time, the Orlando Magic officially announced that forward Franz Wagner underwent an MRI scan revealing a high left ankle sprain. The injury occurred during the first quarter of the away game against the Knicks, and his return will depend on his recovery progress. Insider Shams noted that the typical recovery period for such injuries is usually 2 to 4 weeks. Overall, today's MRI results were positive, showing no structural damage to his left leg.

At 4 minutes and 43 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Wagner stole the ball from Brunson, quickly drove to the basket to position himself, and received an alley-oop pass from teammate Black. Knicks' inside player Huerter fouled Wagner during the block attempt. Wagner landed awkwardly and immediately clutched his left knee in pain.

Fellow German player Huerter clearly felt remorseful about the injury and approached Wagner to show concern. After lying on the court for a long time, Wagner was helped off by his brother Moritz Wagner and rookie Penda, unable to bear weight on his left leg as he left the court.

At that time, many believed the injury was far more serious. The current examination results have clearly brought relief to both the Magic and Wagner himself, a true silver lining amid bad luck.

Moving forward, the Magic will have to face the Miami Heat in the NBA Cup quarterfinals without Wagner. Before his injury, this forward had been the team's best and most consistent performer, averaging 23.4 points, 6.2 rebounds per game, with his three-point shooting percentage improving to 35.4%.

Previously, while the team's core player Banchero was sidelined due to a groin injury, the Magic managed a 7-3 record, with Wagner playing a key role. Banchero just returned from injury last Saturday after missing 10 games.

In November, Wagner suffered a nasal bone fracture and has been playing with a protective mask since. He was also nominated for the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for October-November. Last season, Wagner averaged 24.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.7 assists but only played 60 games due to injury, missing out on award considerations.