The Los Angeles Lakers around national player Dennis Schröder improved their playoff chances in the NBA on Saturday night (01.04.2023), the Orlando Magic around the Wagner brothers only have mathematical chances.
The Lakers beat their direct competitor Minnesota Timberwolves 123-111 (55-65), scored their fifth win in the past six games in the North American Basketball League and climbed from ninth to seventh place.
Davis clearly better than James
Anthony Davis excelled: The center scored 17 of his 38 points in the final quarter, and in one phase Davis scored twelve Lakers points in a row.
“You need one key figure who takes responsibility: and for us that’s him at the moment”, Lakers coach Darvin Ham praised the center. Superstar LeBron James scored 18 points, ten rebounds and six assists, national basketball player Dennis Schröder had eleven points and six assists.
Suns defeat Nuggets
In the west, the Phoenix Suns defeated the first-placed Denver Nuggets 100-93 (60-40) and maintained fourth place with their fourth win in a row. Superstar Kevin Durant led the Suns with 30 points, Phoenix has won all five games with Durant on the floor.
In the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks are on the verge of being the next team to make the playoffs. After a 130-116 (79-72) away win at the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Knicks have been unbeaten in three games and are still comfortably in fifth place. New York playmaker Jalen Brunson set a personal career high with 48 points, while German center Isaiah Hartenstein put up five points and eight rebounds.
Despite victory – Wagner brothers probably without a chance
The Orlando Magic around the German brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner only have arithmetical chances of making the playoffs. The 116-109 (60-63) away win against the Washington Wizards gave the Magic their fourth win in the past five games, but Orlando remains 13th in the table.
Franz Wagner scored eleven of his 20 points in the final period, which the Magic dominated 31-13. Moritz Wagner only played seven minutes and scored four points.