The Orlando Magic have significantly improved their initial situation for the NBA playoffs. The headlines on Wednesday (02.04.2025) wrote Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic.
With the Magic, Franz Wagner and his co-star Paolo Banchero each provided 24 points for an 116:10 win against the San Antonio Spurs, which had important effects. Orlando, who has no chances on the direct move into the NBA playoffs, climbed to seventh place in the Eastern Conference and would have home rights in the play-ins.
The seventh plays in this mini tournament against the eighth around a playoff place, the loser against the winner of the game between the eighth and ninth around the last spot in the KO round. In the remaining five games of the Magic, however, a lot can change at the starting point, the four-way races around the play-in places with the Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls is very tight.
Curry disassembles the grizzlies
In the Western Conference, Stephen Curry ensured that the Golden State Warriors have better chances of not having to go into the playoffs. The 37-year-old scored 52 points out of the Memphis Grizzlies at 134:125 and scored twelve of his 20 attempts to three. In addition, the Point Guard came to ten rebounds, eight assists and five steals.
“The man is 37 years old, that’s incredible”Warriors coach Steve Kerr enthused by Curry. “The physical condition, the skills, boldness, faith – he still has it.”
The Warriors took over sixth place in the west due to the success of 44: 31 wins, behind them three pursuers lurk with 32 defeats on slips from the curry team. These also include the Minnesota Timberwolves (44:32), who experienced a dramatic evening with a successful end – and were witness to another extraordinary performance by Nikola Jokic.
Jokic writes NBA story
The MVP of three of the past four years could not prevent the 139:14 defeat of its Denver Nuggets after double extension, but with its 61 points, ten rebounds and ten assists ensured an NBA record. Never before had a player in the American Basketball League scored so many points on a triple double (three values in the double-digit range).
The nuggets are already qualified for the playoffs – but they are now threatening to lose third place to Los Angeles Lakers. The team around the two superstars LeBron James and Luka Doncic can unlock through the slip.