NBA tournament: Franz Wagner leads Orlando to its first win
Basketball world champion Franz Wagner has led the Orlando Magic to their first victory in the new NBA tournament. In the 103:97 away win against the Chicago Bulls, Wagner was his team's best scorer with 21 points.
Brother Moritz Wagner contributed a further ten points coming off the bench. The win kept Orlando in with a chance of advancing to the knockout phase of the still young competition.
Defeat for Schröder and the Raptors
National team captain Dennis Schröder and the Toronto Raptors, on the other hand, narrowly missed out on a surprise in their first tournament game. The Canadians lost 105-108 at home to the Boston Celtics, currently the best team in the league. Schröder had a good evening and was his team's top scorer with 23 points, tied with team-mate Pascal Siakam.
The 30 teams in the NBA were divided into six groups of five for the newly created tournament, three in each conference. The respective group winners and the best second-placed team in each conference will reach the quarter-finals. Games are played local time on Tuesdays and Fridays, with all results except the final being included in the regular league season.
World champion Theis now in a Clippers jersey
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers and new signing Daniel Theis have landed a major blow. In their first game with the German, the Californians won 106:100 against the Houston Rockets, ending a run of six defeats in a row.
Theis, who had previously been signed in a trade from the Indiana Pacers, played ten minutes and scored two points. The star trio around the previously disappointing new signing James Harden (24 points), Kawhi Leonard (26) and Paul George (23) secured the win.
Isaiah Hartenstein's New York Knicks achieved a clear success away at the Washington Wizards. The Knicks prevailed 120:99, but Hartenstein remained inconspicuous in offense with three points. However, he made his presence felt with eight rebounds.
After his impressive performance in Orlando's opening win, Basketball star Franz Wagner is expected to shine in their upcoming NBA matches. In the NYC-bound NBA tournament, the NBA's best teams, including the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics, will showcase their skills.
In his debut with the Los Angeles Clippers, NBA champion Daniel Theis watched as franchise stars Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and James Harden led them to a victory against the Houston Rockets.
Source: www.dpa.com
