Franz Wagner injury status and update ahead of Trail Blazers vs Magic

The 15-28 Portland Trail Blazers are on a two-game winning streak heading into their Jan. 23 matchup against the 23-22 Orlando Magic. Prior to wins over the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat, Portland endured a five-game losing streak, which sums up the up-and-down 2024-25 season they've had with such a young roster.

One member of their young core who has played well as of late, however, is Scoot Henderson. In the past five games, Henderson is averaging 22.4 points and 7.8 assists. The Blazers certainly need Scoot to continue his hot stretch on the road in Orlando, as they have six players show up on the injury report.

Portland Trail Blazers injury report

Here is Portland's injury report:

• Donovan Clingan: OUT (left ankle sprain)

• Matisse Thybulle: OUT (right ankle sprain)

• Deandre Ayton: OUT (left knee soreness)

• Toumani Camara: QUESTIONABLE (Illness)

• Kris Murray: QUESTIONABLE (chest contusion)

• Anfernee Simons: AVAILABLE (low back soreness)

Update: Anfernee Simons is available, but Deandre Ayton is out, according to Blazers beat reporter Casey Holdahl. Robert Williams III will get the start at center.

In a surprising move by Chauncey Billups, Shaedon Sharpe has come off the bench for Portland in the past two games. How Billups decides to navigate the starting lineup between now and the Feb. 6 trade deadline will be a situation to monitor. However, we may not get much clarity in this matchup as Portland has three starters listed as questionable.

Orlando Magic injury report

It's not much better on Orlando's side, either. The Magic have seven players pop up on their injury report. Of course, the headliner on the injury report for Orlando is Franz Wagner. Wagner hasn't played since Dec. 6 due to a torn right oblique. He'd previously been upgraded to questionable.

It's now been revealed that Wagner will return to the lineup for the Magic:

Wagner could be under a minor minutes restriction, which was the same approach Orlando took when co-star Paolo Banchero recently returned from injury. For context, Banchero hovered around 27 minutes in his first three games back.

Missing underrated two-way guard Jalen Suggs, who has been out since Jan. 3, is a significant blow. Orlando's backcourt was already the one glaring weakness on their roster prior to Suggs' injury. With Cole Anthony also listed as questionable with an illness, they may have to rely on up-and-coming guard Anthony Black to take on an increased role.

Here is Orlando's injury report:

• Jalen Suggs: OUT (low back strain)

• Goga Bitadze: OUT (concussion)

• Franz Wagner: AVAILABLE (return to competition reconditioning)

• Jett Howard: AVAILABLE (left ankle sprain)

• Gary Harris: OUT (left hamstring strain)

• Cole Anthony: OUT (illness)

• Jonathan Isaac: AVAILABLE (illness)

Tip-off at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida is scheduled for 4:00 PM PST.