Franz Wagner's breakout season fueling Magic win streak

On Monday, Wagner finished with 32 points, eight assists and five rebounds to guide Magic to a 109-99 win over the Suns. In the process, he became the first Magic player since Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady to record back-to-back 30/5/5 games in victories. 

Wagner's playmaking has always been one of his most unheralded strengths. The German national team used him as a de facto point guard during the 2024 Paris Olympics, asking him to initiate many half-court sets even with the presence of veteran floor general Dennis Schroder. 

The 23-year-old didn't truly get the opportunity to showcase his playmaking in the NBA until Banchero's injury. Since his co-star went down with a torn oblique, Wagner has been averaging 6.0 dimes per game as the primary decisionmaker in head coach Jamahl Mosley's system. The German averaged 3.7 assists last season and seems primed to double those numbers this year. 

While Wagner's scoring and playmaking have been pivotal to Orlando's win streak, the team's lockdown defense, anchored by Jalen Suggs and Jonathan Isaac, has been just as instrumental. An early candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, Suggs is averaging 2.8 deflections per game and wreaking havoc on not just his guard matchups but bigger wings and forwards. 

Suggs and Co. have held opponents to under 100 points in each of their last six games. No team has achieved the feat since 2018.

In many ways, Banchero's absence has allowed Orlando's unsung players to show up and show out. When Banchero returns, the sky is the limit for this blossoming team.