By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Franz Wagner’s injury-plagued 2025–26 journey took another difficult turn as the German forward was forced to an early exit, late in the third quarter, but the Orlando Magic went on to prevail 94–88 over the Detroit Pistons at the Kia Center on Monday.
After battling a lingering left high ankle sprain that cost him most of the Regular Season, the 24-year-old German forward was sidelined by right calf soreness despite contributing a vital 19 points, five rebounds, and four steals in just 24 minutes. “I talked to him a little bit,” head coach Jamahl Mosley replied to a question about Wagner during his postgame press conference. “He’s in good spirits right now.”
The Berlin native is set to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, he told reporters after Game 4.
The Magic, already without Jonathan Isaac, managed to secure a 3-1 lead in the opening round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, behind additional European contributions from Germany’s Tristan da Silva, who tallied six points and four rebounds, and Georgia’s Goga Bitadze, who recorded six rebounds and two blocks. However, Germany’s Moritz Wagner and France’s Noah Penda remained out of the rotation. Game 5 follows in Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday.
Completing a sweep of their first-round best-of-seven series, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder secured a 131–122 win over the Phoenix Suns in Mortgage Matchup Center, despite missing Jalen Williams since his Game 2 injury, besides Thomas Sorber being sidelined for the entire season. German starter Isaiah Hartenstein remained efficient, posting an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double on 5-for-7 from the field, while Belgian starter Ajay Mitchell provided 22 points and six assists, with Serbia’s Nikola Topic entering late in the fourth quarter.
NBA Playoffs 2026
Eastern Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Detroit Pistons – Orlando Magic 1-3 (101-112, 98-83, 105-113, 88-94)
2. Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 2-2 (126-113, 115-105, 104-126, 89-93)
3. New York Knicks – Atlanta Hawks 2-2 (113-102, 106-107, 108-109, 114-98)
4. Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 3-1 (123-91, 97-111, 108-100, 128-96)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Winners 1-2
6. Winners 3-4
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
Western Conference
Quarterfinals (best-of-seven)
1. Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 4-0 (119-84, 120-107, 121-109, 131-122)
2. Los Angeles Lakers – Houston Rockets 3-1 (107-98, 101-94, 112-108, 96-115)
3. Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 1-3 (126-115, 114-119, 96-113, 96-112)
4. San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 3-1 (111-98, 103-106, 120-108, 114-93)
Semifinals (best-of-seven)
5. Oklahoma City Thunder – Winner 2
6. Winners 3-4
Finals (best-of-seven)
Winners of Semifinals
NBA Finals 2026 (best-of-seven)
Eastern Conference and Western Conference champions