Berlin (AFP) – German forward Franz Wagner hit his stride late to help the Orlando Magic rally for a 118-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday in the first NBA regular-season game ever played in Germany.
The Grizzlies did their best to spoil the return of Orlando’s Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz, to their home country in the showcase game in Berlin. Memphis led by as many as 20 points in the first half before the Magic stepped it up on the defensive end to turn the tide. Orlando surrendered 39 points in the first quarter, but allowed Memphis just 40 in the next two periods combined, Franz Wagner pointing to Orlando’s 26-12 third quarter dominance as the difference-maker.
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Wagner called it “super-special” to have a chance to show his Magic teammates around Berlin, the city where he grew up. He said it wasn’t just the emotion of the trip that accounted for his slow start but also some rustiness as he returned from a 16-game absence with a high ankle sprain. “It was a lot coming into this week,” Wagner said of the extra media demands surrounding the historic game. “Obviously working back from an injury isn’t ever easy, and then it being this game, a very emotional week. Also a taxing week because we did a lot of stuff because we want to maximize our time here.”
“I’m not making any excuses, though. Once you decide to play you’ve got to be ready. I was happy to make some plays at the end,” added Wagner, who scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Anthony Black added 21 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 30 points, but after a red-hot shooting start, the Grizzlies connected on just 33.3% of their attempts from the field in the second half. Grizzlies star Ja Morant, recently the subject of trade rumors, was again sidelined with a calf injury but could take the floor when the two teams continue their European tour with a clash in London on Sunday.
© 2024 AFP
