The Orlando Magic, already coping with the loss of one star, now face the challenge of losing another starting Sunday night.
The Magic will host the Phoenix Suns without forward Franz Wagner, who tore his right oblique in Friday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
Wagner joins Paolo Banchero on the sidelines. Banchero, who is expected to return later this month, has been out since Oct. 30 with a similar injury. Wagner will be re-evaluated in four weeks, the team announced Saturday.
In Banchero’s absence, Wagner emerged as the Magic’s top option, having a breakout season with averages of 24.4 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.6 rebounds per game. He set a career high with nine consecutive games scoring 20 or more points.
Despite these injuries, Orlando has won seven of its past nine games and holds a 13-7 record without Banchero.
The Suns, meanwhile, have lost two consecutive games and will be without star Kevin Durant, who is sidelined with an ankle sprain.
Phoenix has struggled without Durant, posting a 1-8 record in his absence. Durant has played in 13 games this season, averaging 25.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.
Devin Booker is the only member of the Suns’ “Big Three” to play in all 22 games this season. The four-time All-Star guard is averaging 24.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.4 assists, while shooting 90.4 percent from the free-throw line. Guard Bradley Beal missed two weeks in November before returning just before Thanksgiving. He is averaging 17.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in 14 games.
Sunday’s game will be the third of a four-game road trip for the Suns, while the Magic will be glad to return home, where they are 9-0. Orlando has played the most road games of any NBA team this season (16, with a 7-9 record).
Orlando boasts the No. 1 defense in the NBA, allowing just 103 points per game. The scoring burden is likely to fall on point guard Jalen Suggs and center Moritz Wagner, Franz’s brother.
The Magic defeated the Suns 109-99 on Nov. 18 in Phoenix and have won three of the past five meetings between the two teams.
