Rookie Tristan da Silva led the Orlando Magic to an impressive victory in their first NBA game since Moritz Wagner’s serious injury.
The Munich native scored a total of 18 points as his team’s best shooter in the 108:104 win in his own stadium against defending champion Boston Celtics. He also decided the game with a three-pointer 9.9 seconds before the end.
“This was for Mo Wagner,” said teammate Cole Anthony in a TV interview on the field. World champion Moritz Wagner tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the win against Miami Heat on Saturday and will be out until the end of the season after an operation. He watched the game on television. Brother Franz is also currently out, but is expected to have recovered from his abdominal muscle injury in January. In addition, top star Paolo Banchero has been missing from Orlando for weeks.
The 19th win in the 31st game of the season felt all the more valuable for the Florida franchise, which is still on course for the playoffs in fourth place in the East behind the second-placed Celtics. At halftime, Orlando was still 15 goals behind, but turned the game around thanks to da Silva and Trevelin Queen (17 points).
Da Silva with the second best value of his career
In around 16 minutes, the German-Brazilian da Silva contributed three rebounds in addition to his 18 points, the second best value of his young career. The 23-year-old, who converted four three-pointers, also scored more than 15 points for the fourth time this season.
Superstar Jayson Tatum was missing from record champions Boston due to illness.
Schröder loses with the Warriors
World Cup champion Dennis Schröder suffered his second defeat in his third game for the Golden State Warriors. The top team from California lost to the Indiana Pacers 105:111 in their own hall. National team captain Schröder, who moved from the Brooklyn Nets to San Francisco in the middle of the month, scored nine points in just under half an hour.
Things went better for Isaiah Hartenstein and the Oklahoma City Thunder: The center managed a double-double for his team, which remains at the top of the Western Conference, with 16 points and 11 rebounds in the 123:105 win against the Washington Wizards. Maximilian Kleber (three points) also celebrated a 132:108 win against the Portland Trail Blazers with the Dallas Mavericks.