basketball
NBA: Moritz Wagner and Magic lose top game
Moritz Wagner (21), center of the Orlando Magic, moves to the basket. photo
© John Raoux/AP
Without Franz Wagner, the Orlando Magic lose in the NBA against the top team from the West. Things aren’t going well for basketball world champion Dennis Schröder and the Toronto Raptors either.
Without the still injured ankle Basketball world champion Franz Wagner, the Orlando Magic clearly lost the top game in the North American professional league NBA against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Orlando scored a clear 92:113 in their own hall despite a strong performance from Franz Wagner’s brother Moritz.
Moritz Wagner was his team’s best scorer with 21 points and underlined his good performance with eight rebounds. The fact that it wasn’t enough for the Magic to win was also due to a rather weak performance by Orlando’s top star Paolo Banchero. The 21-year-old only scored 18 points and hit just eight of 22 shots from the field.
While the Timberwolves defended their top spot in the Western Conference, Orlando is in eighth place in the East after their 16th loss of the season (21 wins). However, the distance to the seats in front is manageable.
Raptors narrowly lose to Lakers
Meanwhile, national team captain Dennis Schröder and the Toronto Raptors missed out on a prestigious win against the Los Angeles Lakers. In a close game in the Californian metropolis, the Raptors lost 131:132.
Schröder came off the bench again and contributed ten points and six assists. On the host side, Anthony Davis dominated the game with 41 points and eleven rebounds. Superstar LeBron James scored 22 points and provided twelve assists.
Meanwhile, things continue to go well for the New York Knicks around Isaiah Hartenstein. With the 112:84 win at Madison Square Garden against the Portland Trail Blazers, the Knicks celebrated their fifth win in a row and are currently leading the chasing group in the East in fourth place. Hartenstein scored five points but shone under the basket with a strong 14 rebounds.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks suffered an unexpected setback. Still without Maximilian Kleber, who was plagued by a toe injury, the Texans lost their home game against the Memphis Grizzlies 103:120. And that despite the fact that both Kyrie Irving (33 points) and Luka Doncic (31) both cracked the 30-point mark.