National team captain Dennis Schröder impressed in his NBA debut for the Toronto Raptors and led his new team to a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
At 97:94, the world champion was the best player on his team with 22 points, 7 assists and 3 rebounds. Since Kawhi Leonard, no Raptors professional scored as many points in his first game for the team as the 30-year-old from Braunschweig did on Wednesday evening (October 25, 2023, local time).
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Schröder with good feelings
“It just feels good to start with a win. They won the championship in 2019, we just want to establish that winning mentality again,” said Schröder after his first game for the new club.
In the second half in particular, Schröder directed the offensive as effectively as he did at the World Cup with Germany on the way to the title. No other player had as many assists as him, which should further ease the skepticism of many Raptors fans, especially before the World Cup.
Wagner brothers also with a good start to the season
His national team teammates Franz and Moritz Wagner also had a good start to the season with the Orlando Magic. In the 116:86 win against the Houston Rockets, Franz Wagner was the second best scorer of the game with 19 points, only his teammate Cole Anthony was even more successful with 20 points. Moritz Wagner contributed two points and four rebounds in 15 minutes off the bench.
Spurs lose Wembanyama’s NBA debut
However, Victor Wembanyama’s NBA debut, which was associated with great expectations, was lost. Despite a strong final quarter from the 19-year-old Frenchman, the San Antonio Spurs lost 119:126 to the Dallas Mavericks with their stars Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Maxi Kleber from Würzburg.
The 2.24 meter tall Wembanyama was not a big factor in the duel between the Texas teams for a long time and only scored six points after three quarters. In the final quarter he caused great celebration in San Antonio with nine more points. However, his 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, two stolen balls and one block were not enough to beat the Mavs led by Doncic and Irving.
Doncic with a triple to start
Doncic recorded 33 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists and began the season with a so-called triple double of double figures in the most important statistical categories. Irving contributed 22 points. Kleber didn’t have his best night and started the second half on the bench. He ended up with six points, seven rebounds and two assists.
But the greatest attention has been focused on Wembanyama for weeks. With his exceptional combination of size and technical ability, the teenager is considered the most promising talent since LeBron James entered the NBA 21 years ago.
Defeat for Hartenstein, Theis without an appearance
Isaiah Hartenstein and his Knicks lost to the Boston Celtics in an exciting game 104:108 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The German-American had strong scenes in his 26 minutes and, in addition to seven points, also had eight rebounds and two assists, but was unable to prevent the loss of a six-point lead in the last three and a half minutes. Daniel Theis was the only player on his team who did not play in the Indiana Pacers’ 143:120 defeat of the Washington Wizards.
2023-10-26 14:38:32
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