Despite a 3-1 lead, the Magic lost the NBA first-round series against the Pistons. Franz Wagner could only watch the decisive duel.
Without Franz Wagner, who was injured again, they have Orlando Magic in the N.B.A missed out on making it to the next playoff round. The team from Florida lost at the Detroit Pistons with 94:116 (49:60) and had to admit defeat 3:4 in the best-of-seven series.
After four duels, Orlando was still leading 3-1 before suffering three defeats in a row without the injured Franz Wagner. The previously strong world and European champion suffered a calf injury in the third quarter of game four and also had to play the decisive game in the fourth quarter Little Caesar’s Arena follow as a spectator.
For the 24-year-old, a complicated season comes to an end with great disappointment. Due to injuries, Wagner was only able to play 34 games.
Bitter defeat in game six
Due, among other things, to the long absence of the Berlin native, Orlando only qualified for the playoffs at the last minute. There the Magic finally seemed to improve, also because Franz Wagner was convincing.
Had the Magic eliminated the Pistons, they would have become just the eighth team in NBA playoff history to defeat the top seed in the first round. In the sixth game, the Magic already had one foot in the next round, but lost a 24-point lead against the best team in the game Eastern Conference frivolously.
Decision shortly before the break
In the decisive seventh game, Orlando, led by star player Paolo Banchero (38 points), initially held up well. But shortly before halftime, the Pistons broke away with a 15-4 run and went into halftime with an eleven-point lead.
Cade Cunningham (32 points) and Tobias Harris (30) were particularly impressive for the Pistons. In Orlando, Moritz Wagner, who was used again for the first time since game two of the series, had five points, while Tristan da Silva remained without points.
Cunningham takes advantage of Wagner-Aus
The absence of Franz Wagner was not only noticeable on the offensive. His opponent Cunningham turned up the heat after the Berliner’s injury, averaging over 30 points.
Detroit will face the in the conference semifinals Cleveland Cavaliers about the German national team captain Dennis Schröder.
