The Orlando Magic are playing the Detroit Pistons in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series, a matchup that won’t see star Franz Wagner, as he is out due to injury.
Still, the Magic can close out the series with a win on Wednesday and become only the seventh team in NBA history to win the first round as an eighth seed.
Before the crucial Game 5, Orlando made a few key announcements, including their starting lineup and final injury report against Detroit.
Orlando Magic Announce Starting Lineup For Game 5 vs Pistons
In a post on social media, the Magic confirmed their starting lineup for Wednesday night.
Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Jamal Cain, Paolo Banchero, and Wendell Carter were all named starters by head coach Jamahl Mosley and his staff.
In place of the injured Wagner, Cain got the nod in the starting lineup. He made headlines for his dunk over Jalen Duren in Game 4, and will have an increased scoring role as the Magic will now be missing one of their most important players.
But aside from him, Banchero and Bane will take on the brunt of the scoring effort. The two have played well throughout the series, but in the potential series-clinching Game 5, Orlando will heavily rely on their top two players to close out the first round against the Pistons.
Franz Wagner Injury Update
GettyORLANDO, FL – APRIL 25: Franz Wagner #22 of the Orlando Magic celebrates with the fans after making a 3-pointer shot during the second half of game three of the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs against the Detroit Pistons at the Kia Center on April 25, 2026 in Orlando, Florida. The Magic defeated the Pistons 113 to 105.
Wagner suffered a calf strain in the Magic’s Game 4 win, playing just six minutes in the second half after going down with the injury. After that victory, Shams Charania then confirmed the news of his muscle strain.
“Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner has been diagnosed with a right calf strain and his availability for Game 5 against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday is uncertain and will depend on response to treatment, sources tell ESPN,” the insider wrote in a post on X.
Then, heading into Game 5, Charania once again reported that Wagner was not expected to play in the Wednesday night matchup. He wasn’t officially ruled out, but after Banchero told reporters in shootaround that even he didn’t expect Wagner to play, his status was all but confirmed as out for the contest.
“Paolo Banchero told reporters after shootaround in Detroit that the team isn’t expecting Franz Wagner to be available for tonight’s Game 5 against the Pistons,” Magic reporter Jason Beedle wrote on X. “Wagner did not participate in Orlando’s shootaround this morning, I’m told.”
Now, as Beedle and the rest of the NBA world confirmed, Wagner has been ruled out for Game 5 with the calf strain.
His injury status going forward remains unknown, so Orlando closing out the series on Wednesday would be a great help for them getting more time for the wing to recover.
Wagner and Jonathan Isaac make up the Magic’s injury report for the potential close-out game. Detroit will be without Kevin Huerter.
Game 5 of Magic vs Pistons tips off on Wednesday, April 29, at 7 pm EST and live on Amazon Prime Video.
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