SoccerRecap
Leeds as good as safe? Thumping Burnley win opens nine-point gap to drop
Leeds United's 3-1 win over Burnley secures a nine-point gap from relegation.
Sky Sports1 min read
NBAInjury Update
Will Franz Wagner play tonight vs. Pistons in Game 6 with calf injury?
TL;DR
Franz Wagner will not play in Game 6 against the Pistons due to a calf strain injury. He also missed Game 5, which the Pistons won 116-109.
Key points
- Franz Wagner is out for Game 6 due to a calf strain injury.
- The Magic lead the series 3-2 against the Pistons.
- Wagner missed Game 5, which the Pistons won.
Orlando MagicDetroit PistonsFranz WagnerCade Cunningham
The Orlando Magic look to pull off one of the more improbable NBA postseason series upsets against the Detroit Pistons but are not at full health.
While the No. 8 seed Magic have a 3-2 series lead against the No. 1 seed Pistons in the first round of the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, they are shorthanded going into Game 6. Orlando will not have Franz Wagner, one of their most impactful players, available for the game due to a calf strain injury.
Wagner also missed Game 5 and the Pistons won, 116-109. He is officially listed as out for Game 6, too.
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.
Orlando has outscored Detroit by 8.71 points per 100 with Wagner on the court in this series, per PBPStats.com, but have been outscored by 7.4 points per 100 without Wagner playing. According to CleaningtheGlass.com, his on-off court difference ranks in the 91st percentile among all players in the playoffs.
This is a substantial injury for the Magic considering Wagner is so impactful to their overall success.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Franz Wagner injury update: Will he play tonight vs. Pistons in Game 6?
Q&A
Why is Franz Wagner not playing in Game 6 against the Pistons?
Franz Wagner is not playing in Game 6 due to a calf strain injury.
How did the Magic perform in Game 5 without Franz Wagner?
The Magic lost Game 5 to the Pistons, with a final score of 116-109.
What impact does Franz Wagner's absence have on Cade Cunningham's performance?
Without Wagner, Cade Cunningham has averaged 45.7 points per 100 possessions against other Magic players, compared to 21.9 points when defended by Wagner.
