Franz Wagner missed his first career triple-double on Friday when the NBA rescinded an offensive rebound from his statistics sheet during the Orlando Magic game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
The league reviewed a late first-half play where center Goga Bitadze tapped a loose ball under the basket toward Wagner. Scorers initially credited the rebound to the German forward before a video review reversed the ruling.
Here's the play the #NBA reviewed and found that #Magic forward Franz Wagner did NOT rebound the ball and that Goga Bitadze had a controlled tip. Before the review, Wagner had his first career triple-double. Orlando said they will appeal. Clip credit to @MagicFilmRoom pic.twitter.com/7GCpzSJlLe
Officials awarded the contested rebound to Bitadze instead, ruling that the big man had controlled the tap before directing it to his teammate. That single-digit adjustment left Wagner with 35 points, 12 assists, and nine rebounds at the final whistle.
Coach Protests League Decision
Orlando head coach Sean Sweeney expressed open frustration with the post-game statistical correction during his media session. He confirmed that the franchise plans to formally appeal the ruling to secure Wagner’s milestone.
“Er hatte ein Triple Double, bis die Liga diesen Rebound anders gewertet hat,” Sweeney told reporters, criticizing the retroactive ruling.
Wagner Reacts to Statistical Reversal After Victory
Wagner addressed the statistical reversal with calm indifference when speaking to the press after the victory. He emphasized that team success superseded individual milestones while accepting the official box score.
“Schwierig. Ich meine, es wäre natürlich schön gewesen, aber ich glaube, man kann nur seine Minuten so gut wie möglich spielen,” Wagner said. “Neun, zehn, elf, wie auch immer. Ich freue mich über den Sieg und bin zufrieden mit dem Einsatz, den ich heute Abend gebracht habe. Was auch immer der Statistikbogen sagt, damit muss man leben.”
The performance marked Wagner’s fourth game scoring at least 30 points. That streak places him alongside Tracy McGrady, Shaquille O’Neal, Paolo Banchero, and Dwight Howard as the only players in franchise history to reach that scoring threshold in four straight outings.
Against Milwaukee, the Berlin native shot 13 of 22 from the field, converting 59.1 percent of his total attempts and 37.5 percent of his three-pointers.
Sweeney's Tactical Spacing Aids Wagner's Rhythm
Wagner attributed his personal offensive rhythm to the tactical spacing implemented by Sweeney’s coaching staff. The system creates open gaps that suit his driving and playmaking capabilities.
“Die Art, wie wir spielen, passt zu meinen Fähigkeiten. Es gibt viele Lücken oder ein bisschen mehr Platz da draußen, den ich attackieren und in dem ich Plays kreieren kann,” Wagner explained.
The Magic extended their winning streak to three games, lifting their early-season record to 5-7. The team has played this stretch without Paolo Banchero, who has been sidelined since mid-October due to an ankle injury and is not projected to return until December. Meanwhile, guard Jalen Suggs made his return to the lineup on Friday against the Bucks.
Upcoming Schedule
Orlando enters a brief multi-day rest period before hosting the Boston Celtics on Monday. The team then faces the Philadelphia 76ers.
