Why isn't Franz Wagner playing for Magic in Game 7?

[ASFN Admin]

Even after blowing a 3-1 series lead over the Detroit Pistons, the Orlando Magic can still achieve the unthinkable on Sunday. If they manage to beat the Pistons on the road in Game 7 of this first-round playoff, the upstart Magic would still become one of the few No. 8-seeded teams to beat a No. 1 seed in the history of the NBA postseason.

Unfortunately, such history, especially when playing on the road, is the kind where you need all hands on deck to achieve it. And that isn't something the shorthanded Magic will have in Detroit.

Star forward Franz Wagner will miss his third straight game with a right calf strain. This is brutal news for the Magic, as it is perhaps no coincidence that Wagner's scoring, playmaking, connecting, and defensive ability were all sorely missed for Orlando in its Game 5 and Game 6 defeats.

As For The Win's Bryan Kalbrosky points out, it might be Wagner's defense on Pistons franchise talisman Cade Cunningham that is actually the most missed:

During the series against Detroit, per NBA.com, Wagner has served as the primary defender against Cade Cunningham. The Pistons star is shooting 7-of-22 (31.8 percent) with six turnovers across four games on those opportunities.Cunningham is averaging 21.9 points per 100 possessions when defended by Wagner in the series. For comparison, he has averaged 45.7 points per 100 against all other players on the Magic.

For additional context, Cunningham scored 77 combined points on 23-of-46 overall shooting in the Pistons' Game 5 and Game 6 wins without Wagner available to defend him. Woof. Talk about a tough break for Orlando.

Nevertheless, the Magic now have to keep their season going without one of their best players. They have no other choice.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Franz Wagner injury: Latest on Magic star's status for Game 7

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