Lineup alert: Franz Wagner (injury management) will remain on a minutes limit Wednesday, per coach Mosley.
Wagner played 26 minutes on Sunday.
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ORLANDO, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 08: Franz Wagner #22 and Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic celebrate after scoring against the San Antonio Spurs during the fourth quarter at Kia Center on February 08, 2025 in Orlando, Florida.
The Orlando Magic are playing the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2026 NBA Play-In Tournament in the Eastern Conference on Wednesday, April 15.
It has been an up-and-down season for the Magic this year, resulting in head coach Jamahl Mosley finding himself on the hot seat.
Orlando finished 45-37 this season as the seventh seed in the East, which is why they find themselves in the Play-In Tournament.
Before the game against the 76ers, the Magic announced their starting lineup and final injury report for what could be their last matchup of the 2025-26 NBA season.
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 07: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic in action during the game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on December 07, 2025 in New York City. The Knicks won 106-100.
In the lead-up to the contest, Orlando’s starting lineup was announced and confirmed by the team in a post on X.
Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter Jr. were all named starters by Mosley and the coaching staff.
While the Magic have faced major injuries this season, specifically to Wagner and Banchero, this is a typical starting lineup they’ve used when all of their key players have been healthy.
They remain strong on defense, but just like last year, continue to struggle on the offensive side of the ball, which has been one of the reasons why Mosley’s future as head coach remains in question.
GettyFranz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic dribbles during the third quarter of the NBA Match between Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic at Uber Arena on January 15, 2026 in Berlin, Germany.
Before the game, Orlando had three players listed on the injury report for Wednesday night: Carter, Jett Howard, and Jonathan Isaac.
Carter was the first to be upgraded to available, as he was dealing with a nasal fracture, but he will be suiting up against the 76ers.
Both Howard and Isaac were both questionable just hours before the game. Howard was eventually upgraded to available, despite an ankle injury. Isaac was ruled out, as he continues to face a knee injury, one of many that have derailed his season.
Along with those three, it was announced that Wagner will be on a minute restriction for the Magic on Wednesday night. He hasn’t played much since coming back from a foot injury that sidelined him for all but two games in a span of more than three months.
Lineup alert: Franz Wagner (injury management) will remain on a minutes limit Wednesday, per coach Mosley.
Wagner played 26 minutes on Sunday.
As the German forward played 26 minutes in Orlando’s regular-season finale against the Boston Celtics, that is the same amount of time he is expected to play against Philadelphia.
GettyMagic fans didn’t hold back “Fire Mosley” chants are turning frustration into real pressure on Orlando’s front office to take a hard look at Jamahl Mosley.
The Magic finished the regular season as the seventh seed in the East, following a brutal loss to Boston on Sunday. They could have clinched a top-six seed to avoid the Play-In Tournament, but the loss cemented their status as needing to win another game to secure a playoff spot.
Orlando is playing Philadelphia in the ‘7-8 matchup’ in the Play-In Tournament, meaning they only need one win to then become the sixth seed in the East to play the Celtics in the first round.
With a loss, they will play the Charlotte Hornets, who beat the Miami Heat on Tuesday. Whoever wins that game will become the eighth seed in the East and play the Detroit Pistons in the first round.
Regardless of what happens with the Magic the rest of the way, it is expected that Mosley’s position as head coach will be re-evaluated this NBA offseason. He has led the team for the past two years, but specifically after failing to make it into the playoffs this season, despite the high hopes before the year, his job is now in jeopardy, even if Orlando wins in the Play-In game.
The Orlando Magic vs Philadelphia 76ers Play-In Tournament game tips off at 7:30 pm EST on Amazon Prime Video.
Eli Gregorski is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy Sports. He has years of sports writing experience covering the NBA, NFL, college football and basketball, international soccer, and Formula One. He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder, where he was the assistant sports editor for the award-winning CU Independent student publication. More about Eli Gregorski
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