By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Moritz Wagner set his scoring high in the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season at 27 points. The German reserve was the top scorer as the Orlando Magic rallied to the win, 113-96, over the Boston Celtics on Friday.
“You got to play hard every game. We have been through that over the last three years, playing hard. You got to work hard too with your skill. Then, when it gets to game-time, you got to play the right way and play smart and with each other,” he said, “I think once we do that, we have the chance to beat anyone in this league.”
Besides building his season-high with 9/13 field goals, he also grabbed three rebounds. His brother Franz Wagner threw in 17 points behind 8/17 from the field alongside seven rebounds and six assists. Georgian starter Goga Bitadze ended up with six points, five rebounds, three assists, and one block. British Admiral Schofield did not play.
At the midway point of a six-game stretch in Amway Center, the Magic jumped to 11-5. The sixth win in a row narrowed the distance from the leaders of the Eastern Conference to one game, forcing the C’s to 12-4 and retaining hopes to win East’s Group C of the In-Season Tournament.
Missing the opportunity to clinch a berth in the Quarterfinals of the In-Season Tournament, the visitors featured Latvian Kristaps Porzingis at nine points, four rebounds, two steals, and two assists. Due to an injury in his left calf, he will undergo an MRI on Saturday.
Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not leave the bench. Portuguese Neemias Queta was inactive, similar to fellow G League teammates JD Davison, Nathan Knight, and Jordan Walsh. Jrue Holiday (right ankle sprain) was ruled out as well.
On the winning end, Wendell Carter Jr. (fractured third metacarpal of left hand) and Markelle Fultz (left knee tendinitis) were both sidelined. Kevon Harris and Trevelin Queen were also left out of the lineup.
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