The Orlando Magic made things really exciting in the final stretch of the season, but on the last day of the game Franz and Moritz Wagner’s team made it clear: Orlando is in the playoffs.
Allowed to get a taste of the NBA playoffs for the first time: Franz (left) and Moritz Wagner. picture alliance / ASSOCIATED PRESS
In the past twelve seasons, the Orlando Magic have only made it into the playoffs twice, the last time in 2020 and each time they ended in the first round. The playoff drought is now over: On Sunday evening, thanks to a 113:88 win against the Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando secured fifth place in the Eastern Conference and thus a place in the playoffs.
For the two world champion brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner, this means they are in the NBA playoffs for the first time. Franz contributed 25 points (10/21 from the field) to the victory in the decisive game, Moritz had ten points off the bench. The best player for the Magic, who broke away towards the end of the third quarter and nailed it in the final period (33:17), was Paolo Banchero with 26 points, eleven rebounds and seven assists.
The Magic almost lost their good starting position with three defeats in a row in the final phase of the season. Before the last matchday on Sunday, they were even in danger of slipping to 8th place and thus into the play-ins. Instead, with the victory over Milwaukee, Orlando secured a secure playoff ticket and at the same time the best record in 13 years (46 wins and 35 defeats).
Next opponent for Orlando: the Cleveland Cavaliers
Since the Indiana Pacers also won at the same time – the team around Myles Turner (31 points) and Pascal Siakam (28) shot Atlanta out of the hall with 157:115 – the pursuer Philadelphia 76ers brought their own success against the Brooklyn Nets (107:86, Dennis Schröder didn’t play in the last game of the season). The Sixers end the regular season in 7th place and initially fight in the play-in against the Miami Heat for the remaining playoff places. The winner has his ticket secure, the loser of the game fights against the winner of the game between Atlanta and Chicago for the 8 seed.
Schedule and dates: The play-in tournament at a glance
Two playoff series in the first round are now certain: The Magic will meet the fourth-placed Cleveland Cavaliers, who have the home advantage, in the best-of-seven series. The Bucks, who again had to do without the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo in Orlando, slipped to third place due to the defeat and the victory of the New York Knicks and will meet the Pacers.
The Knicks won 120:119 against the Chicago Bulls after overtime in a hard-fought game. Isaiah Hartenstein’s team secured home advantage in the first round and will face the winner of the play-in duel between the Sixers and Heat. The Boston Celtics, as leaders of the regular season (with 64-18, the best record in the entire league), will host the 8-seed in the first round of the playoffs starting next weekend, which still has to be played during the week.
This is how it continues
The pairings in the Eastern Conference at a glance:
Play-in tournament: Philadelphia 76ers (7) – Miami Heat (8), Chicago Bulls (9) – Atlanta Hawks (10)
Conference Quarterfinals: Cleveland Cavaliers (4) – Orlando Magic (5), Milwaukee Bucks (3) – Indiana Pacers (6); The Boston Celtics (1) and New York Knicks (2) are waiting for their opponents from the play-in tournament.
Western Conference:
Play-in tournament: New Orleans Pelicans (7) – Los Angeles Lakers (8), Sacramento Kings (9) – Golden State Warriors (10)
Conference Quarterfinals: Minnesota Timberwolves (3) – Phoenix Suns (6), Los Angeles Clippers (4) – Dallas Mavericks (5); the Oklahoma City Thunder (1) and Denver Nuggets (2/defending champions) are waiting for their opponents from the play-in tournament.
2024-04-14 21:30:02
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