By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Franz Wagner reached one point before matching the best scoring showing of his career with 37 points for the Orlando Magic in a win, 133-121, against the New York Knicks in Kia Center on Saturday.
Retaining his face mask from recent outings, the 24-year-old German small forward connected 13/19 field goals, including four triples, besides registering seven assists and six rebounds over 33:44. “I feel we’re taking steps in the right direction. I thought it was really good how we stayed the course, after a tough start, and every game is going to be the same. So, finding ways to get back into the games and start them really well, or start quarters really well. It’s really important for us,” he said in a post-game press conference, reacting to his side completing a perfect three-game homestand.
Fellow German starter Tristan da Silva produced four points and Georgian Goga Bitadze threw in six points off the bench, but French Noah Penda did not score, and German Moritz Wagner (left knee injury recovery) remained on the Magic’s injury list. On the losing end, British O.G. Anunoby (left hamstring strain) was out with fellow British Tosan Evbuomwan. Among available European players, French Guerschon Yabusele got four points and German Ariel Hukporti sank one point, but French Mohamed Diawara and Pacome Dadiet did not list among the scorers.
Elsewhere in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, Latvian starter Kristaps Porzingis packed 30 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three blocks, and Czech reserve Vit Krejci reached 21 points with seven three-pointers as the Atlanta Hawks overcame a slow start to rout the New Orleans Pelicans, 115-98, in Smoothie King Center. Also, French starter Zaccharie Risacher put in eight points, but Serbian Nikola Djurisic and Spanish Eli Ndiaye remained out of the lineup. For the hosts. Croatian Karlo Matkovic (right calf strain) stayed on the injury list.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic posted a 28-point, 12-rebound double-double, helping the Chicago Bulls prevail, 121-120, over the Washington Wizards at United Center. Lithuanian Matas Buzelis bounced back from a right ankle sprain in the top half of a back-to-back with 13 points, but French Noa Essengue logged four fruitless minutes. Swiss Kyshawn George paired 17 points with 12 rebounds and French Alex Sarr tallied a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Wizards, with Serbian Tristan Vukcevic finishing at 12 points and French Bilal Coulibaly at seven points.
Meanwhile, Spanish Santi Aldama recorded a team-high 20 points, including a clutch bucket to launch a tiebreaking 6-0 run in the final minute for the Memphis Grizzlies en route to a 102-96 victory versus the Dallas Mavericks in American Airlines Center. Starting for the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, the 24-year-old Spanish forward/center tucked in 9/17 from the field, including two three-pointers, besides tallying eight rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal.
With James Harden at 55 points, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Charlotte Hornets, 131-116, in Spectrum Center. Croatian Ivica Zubac chipped in 18 points, and French Nicolas Batum went for nine points, but Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser did not score, and Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic (left hip soreness) sat out. On the wrong end, French Moussa Diabate got six points, with fellow French import Tidjane Salaun on the inactive list.
Without Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (left adductor strain), the Milwaukee Bucks surrendered to the Detroit Pistons, 129-116, in Fiserv Forum. Thanasis Antetokounmpo drew up two points and one block, and fellow brother Alex did not suit up. For the visitors, Swedish Bobi Klintman (left ankle sprain) remained on the injury list.
Saturday results
Charlotte Hornets – Los Angeles Clippers 116-131
Orlando Magic – New York Knicks 133-121
New Orleans Pelicans – Atlanta Hawks 98-115
Chicago Bulls – Washington Wizards 121-120
Milwaukee Bucks – Detroit Pistons 116-129
Dallas Mavericks – Memphis Grizzlies 96-102
Denver Nuggets – Sacramento Kings 123-128
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 14-2
2. Toronto Raptors 11-5
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 11-6
4. Miami Heat 10-6
5. New York Knicks 9-6
6. Philadelphia 76ers 9-6
7. Orlando Magic 10-7
8. Atlanta Hawks 10-7
9. Chicago Bulls 9-7
10. Boston Celtics 8-8
11. Milwaukee Bucks 8-9
12. Charlotte Hornets 4-12
13. Brooklyn Nets 3-12
14. Indiana Pacers 2-14
15. Washington Wizards 1-15
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 16-1
2. Denver Nuggets 12-4
3. San Antonio Spurs 11-4
4. Los Angeles Lakers 11-4
5. Houston Rockets 10-4
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 10-6
7. Phoenix Suns 10-6
8. Golden State Warriors 9-9
9. Portland Trail Blazers 7-9
10. Memphis Grizzlies 6-11
11. Utah Jazz 5-10
12. Los Angeles Clippers 5-11
13. Dallas Mavericks 5-13
14. Sacramento Kings 4-13
15. New Orleans Pelicans 2-15
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins