By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With Moritz Wagner returning to action after being sidelined for 388 days since a surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee, his brother, Franz, is hoping to bounce back from a left high ankle sprain and suit up for the Orlando Magic in the NBA Berlin Game 2026.
Following a 128-118 victory versus the New Orleans Pelicans in the Kia Center, the 24-year-old small forward made his way to a postgame press conference alongside his brother Moe and talked about a possible return to action in the capital of his home country against the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday.
“I feel good. I’ve been working really hard the last couple of weeks to get back as soon as I can, and, hopefully, that’ll be in Berlin, but regardless of if I play or not, it’s gonna be a true full circle moment, I think, for Moe and me. Growing up, going as little kids to that gym to watch the pros play, and now bringing an NBA game there is pretty special for us. We’re just going to try and enjoy every second of it, take it all in, and just appreciate the opportunity,” he previewed the upcoming game in Berlin’s Uber Arena, the home of his former team, ALBA Berlin.
Franz has been sidelined since early December, but Moritz went for eight points, two assists, and two rebounds in just under ten minutes in Sunday’s return. “I’m excited that we got it over with, and we kind of just act like it never happened,” he mentioned, after helping his side improve to 22-18 in the 2025-26 Regular Season.
Fellow German option for the Magic, Tristan Da Silva (back spasms) bounced back from a briefer absence with 16 points. Starting for head coach Jamahl Mosley, Georgian Goga Bitadze registered a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double, and French Noah Penda threw in nine points. German Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain) was inactive.
On the wrong end, Croatian Karlo Matkovic produced 11 points on 4/4 field goals.