The basketball world champions Franz and Moritz Wagner and the Orlando Magic averted the NBA’s early end to the season and forced a decisive seventh game in the playoff series against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the sixth duel of the first round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando won 103:96 on Friday evening (May 3rd, 2024, local time) and thus forced a decisive game on Sunday evening, but then in Cleveland.
26 points for Franz Wagner: “The focus is now on winning”
“That’s super cool, that’s what you work for – not just as an NBA player, but even as a small child. These are the games you grow up with,” said Franz Wagner afterwards: “The focus now is on winning.”
Mitchell with 50 points for the Cavs
The 22-year-old impressed with 26 points and five rebounds on Saturday night. Together with the equally strong Paolo Banchero (27 points), he also defied the outstanding Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell, who scored 50 points. Moritz Wagner had two points and five rebounds in twelve minutes of playing time.
Doncic and Irving excel – Mavericks win series against Clippers
Maximilian Kleber is now one step further, but caused a moment of shock. With the Dallas Mavericks, the recently strong Würzburg player confidently beat the Los Angeles Clippers 114:101. The Mavs were able to rely on their top player duo Luka Doncic (28 points) and Kyrie Irving (30) and won the intense series 4-2. “We knew we were playing a special team, this is a big win,” Irving said. In the quarterfinal series, the Oklahoma City Thunder is now waiting for Dallas.
Maxi Kleber dislocates his shoulder and is out longer
However, Kleber, who had converted several important three-pointers throughout the series, was injured in the second quarter. The 32-year-old landed hard on his right shoulder after an action in the air – he did not return to the game. Late Saturday evening, ESPN reported that the 32-year-old would be out for an extended period of time with a dislocated shoulder. He will not be able to play for an “indefinite” period of time and will therefore miss the start of the second round series on Wednesday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
As in four of five games in the series, world champion Daniel Theis did not play for the Clippers.