The Wagner brothers are still on course for success with Orlando in the NBA. Two German national players in New York concede defeats. The NBA on Friday morning
The Orlando Magic are fourth in the East and well on their way to the playoffs. The team led by German internationals Franz and Moritz Wagner won 121-106 against the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday (local time). The fifth win in a row means that Orlando will finish the regular season with a positive record for the second time in twelve years. Moritz Wagner contributed 14 points, while brother Franz scored 18.
The matchday was also successful for the Dallas Mavericks. The team led by Luka Doncic and Maximilian Kleber beat the Utah Jazz 113:97 and moved up to sixth place in the West with their seventh win from the last eight games. Kleber recorded seven points, two rebounds, two assists and three steals in just under 17 minutes of play.
Despite a strong Isaiah Hartenstein, the New York Knicks were beaten 100:113 by the champion Denver Nuggets with the outstanding Nikola Jokic (30 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists). Hartenstein scored 20 points as a starter – a personal NBA best! He also recorded eight rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal. Despite the defeat, the Knicks remain in a direct playoff spot in the West.
Antetokounmpo reports back
The Brooklyn Nets and world champion Dennis Schröder are far from it. The New Yorkers lost 108:115 against the Milwaukee Bucks and, after their fifth defeat in a row, their chances of reaching the finals are dwindling. With twelve games left to play, the Nets are currently four wins behind the last place that entitles them to participate in the play-in tournament. Schröder recorded nine assists, but only scored five points on nine attempts.
The recovered Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds for the Bucks. “You try to control what you can control,” said Antetokounmpo, who missed two games due to painful patellar tendon issues. “Things like that are going to come up from time to time. Kind of unexpected, but at the end of the day, those are the cards you’re dealt and you just have to keep going and play through pain and adversity. “
