N.B.A
Basketball world champion Franz Wagner excels with 38 points
Can’t be stopped: Franz Wagner (r) from the Orlando Magic. photo
© Carlos Osorio/AP
Franz Wagner equals his personal record in the NBA. Even the opposing coach goes into raptures.
Basketball world champion Franz Wagner has in the North American professional league NBA demonstrated its extra class with a record game.
The 22-year-old equaled his highest point tally in the best league in the world with 38 points in the Orlando Magic’s 111:99 (50:47) win over the Detroit Pistons in his third year. “Franz was incredible,” enthused his coach Jamahl Mosley. “He scored 38 points without shooting a free throw. That’s impressive. That’s the highest level.”
Unstoppable
The Berlin native was unstoppable, especially after the break. “I had a good rhythm,” he explained his top performance. 27 of his 38 points came in the third and fourth quarters. “Because of his size alone, he is a very efficient role player and has a good feeling,” Pistons coach Monty Williams also acknowledged Wagner’s performance.
Together with his brother Moritz, who had ten points, he secured the third Magic win in a row. With their 27th win of the season, the team from Florida underlined their playoff ambitions.
Schröder’s Raptors are far from the playoffs
World champion captain Dennis Schröder and the Toronto Raptors are far from the playoffs. The 2019 NBA champion lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder 127:135 (118:118, 110:110, 63:47) after double overtime. The Canadians lost a 23-point lead in the third quarter. The decision for the best team in the West was made in the second extra season. Schröder scored 19 points. However, his shooting rate could be improved with 5 out of 16 attempts from close range.
Without center Daniel Theis, the Los Angeles Clippers achieved their 33rd win this season. The team from California won the Miami Heat 103:95 (43:43). Theis sat on the bench and was not used.