Franz Wagner led the Orlando Magic to the second win of the season. In the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Berliner posted a new career record with 28 points and also caused a sensation with a poster dunk. The Magic won 115: 97 in the far north.
Minnesota Timberwolves (3-3) – Orlando Magic (2-6) 97:115 (BOXSCORE)
Wagner finished the game with 28 points (10/18 FG), 4 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block in just under 31 minutes and also sank five of his nine attempts from a distance. The forward turned up again, especially in the fourth quarter, when he hit two important threes in a row and then also stuffed from the pick’n’roll elitist over Jarred Vanderbilt.
“Most of the time I tried the lay-up in such situations, this time I wanted to try the dunk and that worked out very well,” said Wagner after the game Bally Sports Florida with a smile on his face. After the game, Wagner was celebrated in the dressing room by his teammates, and there was a water shower for the rookie. “He’s not a stubborn player, he always makes the right play and wants to share basketball,” praised coach Jamahl Mosley, who never tired of emphasizing that the number 8 pick never forced anything despite his 28 points .
Incidentally, Wagner narrowly missed the German rookie record for the most points as a freshman. This is still held by Dirk Nowitzki, who posted 29 points (10/16 FG, 7/8 FT) in the game at the Phoenix Suns in the 1998/99 season.
Before the Wagner gala, Cole Anthony, who was top scorer with 31 points, brought Magic back into the game after being 13 points behind. Orlando hardly wanted to achieve anything in half-time, the guests were only in the game thanks to numerous free throws. But there, too, it was Wagner who, with 14 points, was still the best player.
Franz Wagner outstanding at Magic win in Minnesota
Even then, the 20-year-old managed to create a small highlight, when he made capable defender Jalen McDaniels look old with a behind-the-back move. Rookie colleague Jalen Suggs, on the other hand, had problems again, but ended the game with 15 points (5/14 FG) and 5 ball losses. Moe Wagner sank his only litter in six minutes after his brother found him under the basket.
On the other hand, it was a game to forget for the Wolves. Patrick Beverley was absent with calf problems, and D’Angelo Russell (3, 1/8 FG) reported after the first half with thigh problems. As a result, nothing wanted to work offensively, the Wolves only hit 28 percent from the field after the change.
The best scorer was Anthony Edwards (24, 10/22 FG), who mostly acted as point guard in the second half, but was a bit overwhelmed with this task. Karl-Anthony Towns had 23 points (8/17 FG), 16 rebounds and 6 assists, but showed unusual weaknesses at the free throw line (3/7 FT). Both could not prevent Orlando from winning the final section with 43:19.
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