By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Franz Wagner reached one point short of tying his career best score with 37 points for the Magic of Orlando in a victory, 133-121, against the New York Knicks at the Kia Center on Saturday.
Keeping his mask on during his recent outings, the 24-year-old German small forward scored 13/19 baskets, including four triples, in addition to recording seven assists and six rebounds in 33:44. “I think we’re taking steps in the right direction. I thought it was really good how we stayed the course, after a tough start, and that every game is going to be the same. So, finding ways to come back into games and start them really well, or start the quarters really well. That’s really important for us,” he said in a post-match press conference, reacting to his team completing a perfect three-game homestand.
Fellow German starter Tristan da Silva produced four points and Georgia’s Goga Bitadze scored six points coming off the bench, but Frenchman Noah Penda did not score and Germany’s Moritz Wagner (recovering from a left knee injury) remained on the Magic’s injured list. On the losing side, Britain’s OG Anunoby (left hamstring strain) was out along with fellow Briton Tosan Evbuomwan. Among the available European players, Frenchman Guerschon Yabusele had four points and German Ariel Hukporti lost one point, but Frenchmen Mohamed Diawara and Pacome Dadiet were not among the scorers.
Elsewhere during the 2025-26 NBA regular season, Latvian starter Kristaps Porzingis had 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three blocks, and Czech reserve Vit Krejci reached 21 points with seven three-pointers as the Atlanta Falcons overcame a slow start to rout the New Orleans Pelicans115-98, at Smoothie King Center. Additionally, French starter Zaccharie Risacher scored eight points, but Serbian Nikola Djurisic and Spaniard Eli Ndiaye remained out of the lineup. For the hosts. Croatian Karlo Matkovic (right calf sprain) remained on the injured list.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic had a double-double of 28 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Chicago Bulls win, 121-120, on the Wizards of Washington at the United Center. Lithuania’s Matas Buzelis recovered from a sprained right ankle in the top half of a 13-point streak, but France’s Noa Essengue logged four scoreless minutes. Switzerland’s Kyshawn George had 17 points and 12 rebounds and France’s Alex Sarr had a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds for the game. Wizardsthe Serbian Tristan Vukcevic finishing on 12 points and the Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly on seven points.
Meanwhile, Spaniard Santi Aldama recorded a team-high 20 points, including a clutch bucket to start a decisive 6-0 run in the game’s final minute. Memphis Grizzlies en route to a 102-96 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Starting the team coached by Finn Tuomas Iisalo, the 24-year-old Spanish forward/center scored 9/17 on the field, including two three-point baskets, in addition to collecting eight rebounds, four assists, a block and an interception.
With James Harden at 55 points, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Charlotte Frelons131-116, in Spectrum Center. Croatian Ivica Zubac scored 18 points and Frenchman Nicolas Batum nine points, but Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser did not score and Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic (left hip pain) was absent. On the bad side, Frenchman Moussa Diabaté got six points, while his compatriot Tidjane Salaun is on the inactive list.
Without Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (left adductor strain), the Milwaukee Bucks went to Detroit Pistons129-116, in the Fiserv forum. Thanasis Antetokounmpo had two points and a block, and his compatriot Alex did not wear the uniform. For the visitors, Swede Bobi Klintman (sprained left ankle) remained on the injured list.
Saturday results
Charlotte Frelons – Los Angeles Clippers 116-131
Magic of Orlando – New York Knicks 133-121
New Orleans Pelicans – Atlanta Falcons 98-115
Chicago Bulls – Wizards of Washington 121-120
Milwaukee Bucks – Detroit Pistons 116-129
Dallas Mavericks – Memphis Grizzlies 96-102
Denver Nuggets – Kings of Sacramento 123-128
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 14-2
2. Toronto Raptors 11-5
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 11-6
4. Miami Heat 10-6
5. New York Knicks 9-6
6. Philadelphia 76ers 9-6
7. Magic of Orlando 10-7
8. Atlanta Falcons 10-7
9. Chicago Bulls 9-7
10. Boston Celtics 8-8
11. Milwaukee Bucks 8-9
12. Charlotte Hornets 4-12
13. Brooklyn fillets 3-12
14. Indiana Pacers 2-14
15. Wizards of Washington 1-15
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 16-1
2. Denver Nuggets 12-4
3. San Antonio Spurs 11-4
4. Los Angeles Lakers 11-4
5. Houston Rockets 10-4
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 10-6
7. Phoenix Suns 10-6
8. Warriors of the Golden State 9-9
9. Portland Trail Blazers 7-9
10. Memphis Grizzlies 6-11
11. Utah Jazz 5-10
12. Los Angeles Clippers 5-11
13. Dallas Mavericks 5-13
14. Kings of Sacramento 4-13
15. New Orleans Pelicans 2-15
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
