The Orlando Magic with the German world champion brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner have to worry about direct playoff qualification in the North American basketball league NBA. They lost their penultimate game of the season at the Philadelphia 76ers with 113:125 (61:68).
Before the final day of play on Sunday, Orlando is in fifth place, level with the Indiana Pacers and Sixers. All three teams play at home at the end, with the Magic having their toughest opponent in the form of the second-place Milwaukee Bucks in the East. The Miami Heat in eighth place could also benefit from a Magic defeat and move past.
Only the first six teams in each conference qualify directly for the playoffs, four others play for two places in a so-called play-in tournament. “We just need one win and then we’re good,” said Franz Wagner, who was able to play again in Philadelphia after a two-game break and was his team’s best scorer with 24 points. Brother Moritz showed a strong performance, hit all of his throws and scored 17 points. For Philadelphia, which won its seventh game in a row, league top scorer Joel Embiid excelled with 32 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists.
Hartenstein and Schröder are missing
The New York Knicks, without Isaiah Hartenstein, won 111:107 against the Brooklyn Nets, who were also missing Dennis Schröder. If the Bucks lose in Orlando, the Knicks could move up to second place in the East.
In the Western Conference, three teams are tied at the top before the last game day, behind them the Los Angeles Clippers led by Daniel Theis (14 points, 7 rebounds) have secured fourth place despite a narrow 109:110 defeat against the Utah Jazz. The Clippers benefited from a surprising, clear 89:107 defeat by the Dallas Mavericks with Maxi Kleber (six points, three rebounds) against the Detroit Pistons. The New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns will fight for the last direct playoff spot in the West on Sunday.
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2024-04-13 07:44:07
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