Wagner reflects on the team's strong finish, offensive flow, and playoff aspirations, emphasizing confidence and finding their rhythm.
On the group's ability to close out the game strongly in the second half:
"Yeah, sucks. I was actually not — I didn't see that part of the game — but I thought the second half was a lot better in terms of our intensity and focus and just sticking to what we want to do. I think usually that tends to work out really well for us, just sticking with the process."
On the moment he hyperextended his leg and the process of returning:
"You know, I hyperextended the leg a little bit, so not the best feeling in the world. Pretty quickly it all felt normal. Checked everything and then I think it's important to be out there and get some confidence and play a couple minutes more."
On the offense flowing with 32 assists and how to recreate that moving toward the postseason:
"I think the last couple games we've been moving the ball a little bit better — getting in the paint and making better decisions there. I think it's just about reading the defenses and not adjusting our actions, but just how we read off of them depending on the coverage. It's something we got to continue to get better at."
On what the crowd has meant this season and being excited to return in the postseason:
"It means a lot. Obviously it hasn't been the easiest season, I think, for everybody involved. I think it's important to have people that have your back in those times. Having said all that, I think we got a really good chance here to make a playoff run. That's really all that matters."
On the emotional and mental challenges of the injury rehab while the team pushes for the playoffs:
"It's tough. Injuries can be tough mentally, obviously. In a competitive environment you want to prove yourself every night and sometimes you don't get those chances. I think it's just about letting the process work itself out and not forcing it too soon. That's when I think you get the best results. And that's not always easy, and that's why we have people to help us out and get us in the right mindset. At this point it's just finding my way back into the rotation and us as a team clicking at the right time. It doesn't really matter who makes shots or plays what role. I think it's just about figuring it out at this point."
On whether the spacing is more noticeable with the full starting lineup and key pieces healthy:
"I would actually say it has nothing to do with those players. I think our bigs have been really good about spacing the floor and creating driving lanes for our creators. I think that's the beauty of our team — we got a lot of those guys that are effective at getting downhill but they need space to do that. I think we've done a better job with that these last couple games."
On the difference in this year's team and mindset compared to the past two years:
"I just think we've got great confidence in the roster that we have and the talent level. At the same time though, I think it's time to put it together. I don't think we've clicked as much as we should have all year and it's time to do that now."
On playing against and chatting with Joe Ingles:
"It was awesome. I think Joe's family is still out here. So I think it was a big important game for him. It's awesome to play against him and talk to him too. We don't see each other that much and it was a really fun year playing with him. It was good to get that opportunity."
On the diagnosis of the leg injury:
"I hyperextended the leg a little bit. That's just my education. I only went two years to college. But I think that's what it was. I did go to Michigan. Go Blue."
On avoiding scoreboard watching with only a couple games left:
"I think that's for the whole year. There's a lot of distractions, and I think that's just another one right now. At the end of the day, the good teams, the most consistent teams, are the ones that can focus on the moment most consistently. You guys being here, fans being in the arena — all those things are fun, but they also distract from what's actually important. So I just add it to the list."
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