The Orlando Magic have ended their series of bankruptcies and the Denver Nuggets shocked with a comeback win. In the 108: 103 success, Franz Wagner is the hero of the evening, his threesome shortly before the end brings Orlando onto the road to victory.
Orlando Magic (5-18) – Denver Nuggets (10-11) 108:103 (BOXSCORE)
A little less than two minutes were left on the clock when the German rookie got the ball on the right wing. He ran a pick’n’roll, in which the nuggets center Nikola Jokic went into drop coverage and gave Wagner a corresponding amount of freedom. The 20-year-old used it with several quick steps behind the triple line, he pulled the trigger – and inside!
The triple gave the home side the lead (106: 103) 1:45 minutes before the end after a balanced score, which Orlando ultimately also brought about the time. “I was just free, so I threw,” said the hero of the game with a big grin on his face in his post-game interview Bally Sports Florida. “It feels really good to win again, especially in front of your own audience.”
With the surprise success against the favorites from Denver, the Magic ended their bankruptcy series after seven defeats in a row. Wagner got 15 points (6/9 FG and 1/1 threesome), 5 assists, 3 rebounds, 3 steals and a block. The eighth pick of the 2021 draft also convinced defensively with some good actions.
His older brother Moritz also made a good match with 12 points from the bank (5 of them in the fourth quarter) and 2 rebounds. Magic’s top scorer was Cole Anthony (24, 8 rebounds and 7 assists), who like Wendell Carter Jr. (18) turned up in the second half and was an important factor in Magic’s comeback.
Magic: Strong comeback in half two shocks Denver
Among the guests, Monte Morris was the most diligent point collector with 22 points, Jokic finished the game with 18 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists with 5 ball losses. Aaron Gordon put 17 counters on his return to his old place of work.
The 26-year-old spent the first six and a half years of his career in Orlando, where he received a video tribute from the Magic. Gordon thanked him for that several highlight slams. Denver had the game under control early on, building a quick double-digit lead and winning the first section with 29:15.
In the second round, too, things only got better for Orlando, who now scored much better, but the nuggets were still barely able to stop. It went into the locker room 16 points behind, but Magic coach Jamahl Mosley obviously found the right words there.
Now the Magic took over, led by Carter Jr. (11 in the third quarter) and Anthony, who returned to the floor after a six-game (ankle) injury break. The third round went to Orlando with 32:20, who were now back in the game (79:83).
Afterwards it stayed exciting until the end. Wagner’s threesome actually gave Magic the first lead of the evening, then Gordon failed from distance, Jokic lost the ball and while Orlando could not score either, Will Barton missed the last attempt by the Nuggets. Anthony finally made everything clear from the line and Orlando ended the series of bankruptcies with the most efficient offensive performance of the season so far (54.3 percent FG, season high).
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