The Orlando Magic with the German basketball world champions Franz and Moritz Wagner can still hope for direct playoff qualification in the NBA.
Orlando clearly defeated the Detroit Pistons 113:91 (59:50) on Sunday (March 3, 2024) and climbed to sixth place in the playoffs with 35 wins in the East. Ranks seven to ten play in a so-called play-in tournament for two tickets to the knockout round.
Franz Wagner is not quite as accurate
Franz Wagner wasn’t as accurate against the Pistons as he has been in previous months and scored 13 points. Brother Moritz scored six points in Magic’s third success in a row.
Daniel Theis and the Los Angeles Clippers consolidated fourth place in the West with a narrow away win. The Californians won 89:88 (49:46) against the Minnesota Timberwolves. World champion Theis had four points and a strong 13 rebounds.
Knicks can also plan for the playoffs
The New York Knicks can also plan for the playoffs. In the duel with the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team from the Big Apple won 107:98 (51:53) and is fourth in the East. Isaiah Hartenstein had eight points, seven rebounds and eight assists.
There was another setback for direct playoff qualification for the Dallas Mavericks and Maxi Kleber. The 116:120 (51:56) against the Philadelphia 76ers was the second defeat in a row for the Texans. Kleber scored two points. 38 points, eleven rebounds and ten assists from Mavs top star Luka Doncic were not enough. With 34 wins this season, superstar Dirk Nowitzki’s former team is in eighth place in the West.
Boston with a record win
The Boston Celtics have outclassed former champions Golden State Warriors. The NBA team with the highest points defeated superstar Stephen Curry’s team 140:88 (82:38).
The Celtics set numerous records in their eleventh success in a row. The 82:38 halftime lead was the largest in the history of the traditional franchise, but for the Warriors it was the largest deficit in history.
“That was a great birthday“, said Jayson Tatum, who not only turned 26, but also scored 22 of his 27 points before the break. Teammate Jaylen Brown even had 25 points after the first two quarters and ended up with 29 points.
Third highest win since its inception
For Boston it was the third-highest win since its founding in 1946. Only the 133:77 in Chicago (December 8, 2018) and the 128:75 against Sacramento on January 25, 2022 were even clearer.
The Celtics are now the first team in NBA history to win three games in a season by 50 or more points. The Celtics beat Indiana 155-104 in November and most recently beat Brooklyn 136-86.
Nothing worked at all for the Warriors after three wins in a row. The top players Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green were no longer used after the significant halftime deficit.