Franz to play, How To Watch Orlando Magic-Memphis Grizzlies, Lineups, Injury Report, Betting Lines & More

A preview of Thursday’s game between the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies.

Feb 21, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) is fouled by Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. (13) during the second quarter at Kia Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images | Mike Watters-Imagn Images

Franz Wagner will return to the Orlando Magic lineup in his hometown, which is pretty neat and hints that he’s been pushing to ensure that he doesn’t miss out on this opportunity. 

Wagner has been sidelined by a high ankle sprain that frankly looked a lot worse when it occurred at Madison Square Garden back in the first quarter of a Dec. 7 loss to the New York Knicks. It will cost him nearly six weeks of action, but at the time, it looked like it might be a season-ender.

The Memphis Grizzlies won’t have Ja Morant in the lineup for the first leg of this European tour as trade rumors continue to swirl. He’s participated in practices overseas and has been getting treatment, but won’t play and may have played his final game for the team if a deal can be struck over the next week.

Orlando is stuck in a rut where it hasn’t won consecutive games since Dec. 1, but has only dropped two in a row once in that entire span, looking every bit the picture of mediocrity. The Magic rallied past the New Orleans Pelicans in their most recent matchup on Sunday, getting 27 points from Desmond Bane in a 128-118 triumph. This game will mark the halfway point of Orlando’s season.

The Grizzlies have dropped six of eight but do come off a 103-98 victory against the Brooklyn Nets behind rookie Cedric Coward’s team-high 21 points. They’ve dropped four of the last five games outside of Memphis. 

Besides Franz and older brother Moe Wagner, Munich-born Tristan da Silva is also German, while backup center Goga Bitadze is from Georgia. The only European-born member of the Grizzlies is Spanish forward Santi Aldama.

Vitals - How to Watch Grizzlies vs. Magic

Game date, time and location: Thursday, Jan. 15, 2:10 p.m. EST, Uber Arena, Berlin, Germany

TV: Amazon Prime Video

Radio: WMFS-FM (Grizzlies), FM 96.9 The Game/AM 740 WYGM (Magic)

Magic hope having Bane on their side ends rut against Memphis

The Orlando Magic (22-18) and Memphis Grizzlies (17-22) square off in the first of two Europe-based matchups the NBA is putting on this season. The Berlin Game, as this is called, is the first regular-season NBA game ever played in Germany. It will be played at Uber Arena, which typically hosts concerts, hockey matches and the Alba Berlin basketball team’s contests. For hoops, it typically seats 14,500.   

Alba Berlin is where both Moe and Franz Wagner played as young pros, and competes in the Euroleague in addition to Germany’s Bundesliga. Grizzlies head coach Tomas Iisalo knows the league well, coaching at Telekomm Baskets Bonn and winning titles there on his rise through the ranks.

These teams will play in London’s 02 Arena on Sunday. Memphis has won seven of the last eight matchups between these teams, sweeping last season’s games 124-111 and 105-104. The Grizzlies’ one-point win came on Feb. 21 of ‘25, with the winning margin provided by a late Aldama free throw. Jaren Jackson Jr. blocked a Paolo Banchero potential game-winner to preserve the victory, which was spurred on by a team-high 23 points from Morant. Franz Wagner led Orlando with 25.

Memphis’ recent surge has given it a 31-26 series lead over the Magic dating back to the Grizzlies’ entry into the NBA in ‘95. Orlando won 11 of the first 12 matchups, including the first two after the Griz moved from Vancouver to Tennessee, before things started to turn.

Betting Lines (via DraftKings) 

Spread: Magic -5.5 (-110), Grizzlies +5.5 (-110)

Moneyline: Magic -205, Grizzlies +170

Total: 231.5 (Over -110, Under -110)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

PROJECTED STARTERS

GRIZZLIES

F Jaylen Wells

F Jaren Jackson Jr.

C Jock Landale

G Cam Spencer

G Cedric Coward

MAGIC

F Franz Wagner

F Paolo Banchero

C Wendell Carter Jr.

G Anthony Black

G Desmond Bane

INJURY REPORT

GRIZZLIES

Ja Morant: Out - Right Calf Contusion

Brandon Clarke: Out - Right Calf Strain

Zach Edey: Out - Left Ankle Stress Reaction

Ty Jerome: Out - Right Calf Strain

Scotty Pippen Jr.: Out - Right Toe Surgery Recovery

MAGIC

Jalen Suggs: Out - Right Knee MCL Contusion

Colin Castleton: Out - Left Thumb Fracture

QUOTABLE

Magic forward Franz Wagner on being able to return to action in his hometown: “It’s going to be a great day, obviously. Not just for everybody at the game, but for German basketball in general."