basketball
NBA: Franz Wagner again top scorer in Orlando victory
Franz Wagner scored 27 points for the Orlando Magic. photo
© John Raoux/AP
Franz Wagner leads the Orlando Magic to their next home win in the NBA as top scorer. Dennis Schröder suffers the next defeat with Toronto, Isaiah Hartenstein dominates in rebounds.
Basketball world champion Franz Wagner remains in the NBA in impressive form. In the Orlando Magic’s 123:91 (58:44) home win against the Detroit Pistons, Wagner once again became his team’s best scorer with 27 points.
The 22-year-old was the team’s top scorer in seven of Orlando’s last eight games. During this period he averaged 24.6 points in the North American Basketball League.
In Orlando’s first win after two previous defeats, Franz’s brother Moritz Wagner had four points and five rebounds. With a record of 15 wins and seven defeats, the Magic remain in second place in the Eastern Conference, and the team from Florida has been unbeaten at home for eight games. The Pistons suffered their 22nd defeat in a row. The last time a team in the NBA lost more games in a row was in the 2020/21 season.
Another bankruptcy for Schröder and the Raptors
World champion captain Dennis Schröder suffered his third defeat in a row with the Toronto Raptors. With 116:119 (54:66), the team from Canada lost out to the Charlotte Hornets and remains outside the playoff ranks. Even a strong fourth quarter with 39 points didn’t help Toronto make a comeback against the Hornets. As in previous games, Schröder failed to find his throwing rhythm and only managed seven points.
The New York Knicks around national player Isaiah Hartenstein had to admit defeat to the Boston Celtics 123:133 (64:74). Hartenstein impressed on the boards and set his personal career best with 16 rebounds, and the center also scored five points. The Celtics remain the only undefeated team in their own stadium in the league.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder remain one of the NBA’s surprise teams. With 138:136 (56:62, 118:118) after overtime, the Thunder defeated the Golden State Warriors and are still the second-best team in the Western Conference. Even 34 points from superstar Stephen Curry couldn’t prevent the Warriors from losing.