Simmering the Heat on Saturday night was a reason enough to celebrate, but the mood in Orlando felt different. Dampened is probably the best word to describe that as Moe Wagner left the court with an aching expression in the 121-114 win. They say lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same spot, but for Orlando, there’s an exception. So much so that it has struck them 3 times now as Moritz Wagner’s season came to an early stop.

The German center is now ruled out for the season with an ACL injury, Magic announced earlier today. “Moritz Wagner underwent an MRI today and results revealed that Wagner has sustained a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Wagner will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the 2024-25 season,” the statement read.

The franchise now finds three of its top players, Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, and Moe Wagner, on the injury list. The Magic fans couldn’t believe their luck, but there was no lack of support for the devastated players.

“Heal up Moe🤞🏽,” a fan commented on X after the news surfaced. They expressed warm wishes for Wagner’s recovery, empathizing with the pain the 27-year-old will have to endure during the healing process.

As the franchise is going through some tough times, let’s see what the other fans have to say.

Fans rally behind Moe Wagner following somber update

Reciprocating the common thoughts of the Magic fans, an X user wrote, “WHY USSSSS.” Apart from the Wagner brothers, Paolo Banchero suffered a torn right oblique against the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 30. The 22-year-old has been sidelined ever since, but recent updates indicate that he’s close to returning to the court.

Despite that, there were some complaints about the medical department of the team. “What is it going to take to get a completely new training staff!? Every year our players drop like flies, something isn’t right,” a fan questioned. Apart from the core players, Gary Harris is out with a hamstring issue. NBA Dunk contest winner, Mac McClung is also in day-to-day status along with Jalen Suggs.

Another fan wrote, “Hate hearing this. He was having such a good season. Should be 6th man this year. Best of luck Moe. See you soon.” The center was averaging 12.9 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, which showcases his strong presence off the bench. Not only did his total points rank him second in the league among bench players, but it also made him a top contender for the Sixth Man of the Year award.“Get well @moritz_weasley ! Don’t let this bite your shine you’ll be back built like iron!” wished a fan. The Magic have Goga Bitadze covering their starting C spot with Wendell Carter Jr. as backup. With the trade window open, the franchise might consider bringing in reinforcement as Moritz will have a long road of recovery ahead. ACL injury recovery timeline usually is around 8 months before full fitness is regained. So before the next season, Wagner will have no part in Magic’s Eastern Conference conquest.

Dealing with season-ending injuries is never easy. Those who have gone through it have often spoken about the physical and mental toll it takes. However, we can only hope that Moe Wagner fully recovers and returns in even better shape.