Big spectacle in the NBA
World champion Wagner can no longer be stopped
Basketball world champion Franz Wagner equaled his personal best in the NBA. He was unstoppable, especially after the break. Even the opposing coach was enthusiastic. For Dennis Schröder and his Raptors, the playoffs were increasingly out of reach.
Basketball world champion Franz Wagner has demonstrated his class in the NBA with a record-breaking game. In his third year, the 22-year-old equalized the Orlando Magic's 111:99 (50:47) victory over the Detroit Pistons with 38 points, his highest point total in the world's best league. “Franz was incredible,” enthused his coach Jamahl Mosley. “He scored 38 points without taking a free throw. That's impressive. That's the highest level.”
The Berliner was unstoppable, especially after the break. “I was in a good rhythm,” he explained his top performance. 27 of his 38 points came in the third and fourth quarters. “He's a very efficient role player just because of his size and he has a good feeling,” said Pistons coach Monty Williams, acknowledging Wagner's performance. Together with his brother Moritz, who scored ten points, he secured the Magic's third win in a row. With their 27th win of the season, the team from Florida underlined their playoff ambitions.
World champion captain Dennis Schröder and the Toronto Raptors are far from the playoffs. The 2019 NBA champions lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder after double overtime with 127:135 (118:118, 110:110, 63:47). The Canadians squandered a 23-point lead in the third quarter. The decision for the best team in the West was made in the second extra period. Schröder scored 19 points. However, his shooting percentage could be improved with 5 of 16 attempts from close range. Without center Daniel Theis, the Los Angeles Clippers achieved their 33rd victory this season. The team from California won against the Miami Heat with 103:95 (43:43). Theis sat on the bench and did not play.
