The Orlando Magic around the German basketball brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner have won their third home game in a row in the NBA. The Magic defeated the New York Knicks 111-106 (53-45) in the North American Basketball League.
Franz Wagner had 16 points, six assists and three rebounds but twisted his ankle on a defensive action in the fourth quarter and was substituted off with seven and a half minutes left. Orlando’s top scorer Paolo Banchero (21 points) hit an important three in the final phase and sealed the final score on the free-throw line. Moritz Wagner marked eleven points, seven rebounds and three assists, with the Knicks the German center Isaiah Hartenstein came six points, four rebounds and three assists.
The Magic still have a mathematical chance of making the playoffs, but with eight games remaining, the Florida team is three wins behind the tenth-placed Chicago Bulls. Things are looking better for the Knicks, who are still in fifth place.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are about to make the playoffs after beating the Brooklyn Nets 116-114. Isaac Okoro became the match winner, who hit the three-pointer that decided the game in the final second for Cleveland’s third win in a row. Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points.
In the tight playoff race of the Western Conference, the New Orleans Pelicans pushed past the Oklahoma City Thunder to tenth place with a 115:96 (62:57) win over the Charlotte Hornets and benefited from the 105:127 (54:57). 54)-Loss of the Thunder at the Los Angeles Clippers. Pelicans winger Brandon Ingram recorded a triple-double for the first time in his NBA career with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
