NBA Notes: Magic, Franz Wagner, Hornets, LaMelo Ball, Nuggets

January 9, 2026

Magic

The Magic have been characteristically cautious when it comes to injury timelines, but head coach Jamahl Mosley offered a more detailed glimpse into where brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner stand on Friday.

Franz Wagner, sidelined since December 7 with a left high ankle sprain, has progressed to on-court work that now includes light contact, as relayed by Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel. Mosley said the focus has shifted toward conditioning and stamina as the team gauges how his body responds.

Moritz Wagner, meanwhile, continues to move forward in his recovery from ACL surgery. According to Mosley, the big man has taken part in two-on-two and three-on-three work and is absorbing contact as well.

There’s hope both could be available for next Thursday’s game in Germany, but nothing is locked in.

“The challenge in that is, you think long term,” Mosley said. “You want them to be ready for that Berlin game. They want to be ready for that Berlin game. That’s the ideal world. But the reality is you want them prepared and as healthy as possible for the long run.”

Hornets

LaMelo Ball came off the bench Thursday for the first time since his rookie season, a move Charlotte made with an eye toward keeping him available late.

After limited fourth-quarter minutes earlier in the week, head coach Charles Lee said the decision was about managing Ball’s workload more creatively.

“Just trying to find a way to get more creative with how we manage Melo’s minutes,” Lee said, via Rod Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “It helped us regulate his time and allowed him to be out there at the end, where it matters most.”

Nuggets

With Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas sidelined, Zeke Nnaji has quietly stepped into a larger role and made the most of it, writes Bennett Durando of the Denver Post.

The former first-round pick has five steals and six blocks over his past three games, earning praise from teammates and coaches alike.

“He’s been amazing defensively,” Jamal Murray said.

Head coach David Adelman echoed the sentiment.

“I don’t remember him moving this well,” Adelman said after Wednesday’s win over Boston. “He guarded everybody. We were switching everything, and he handled it. It’s good to see him have success after not being in the rotation.”