An outstanding Franz Wagner led the Orlando Magic to a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers with three seconds left. The German basketball world champion converted the decisive throw to 119:118 (60:67) in the North American professional league NBA.
Wagner set two personal season highs with 37 points and eleven assists. In addition to the so-called double-double, Wagner also recorded six rebounds and four steals. His brother Moritz Wagner also achieved a personal season best with 19 points. Tristan da Silva, the Magic’s third German, scored twelve points.
The Lakers around LeBron James (31 points) and Anthony Davis (39) had previously been in the lead for large parts of the final quarter. Among other things, James scored three threes in a row. But in the final minute, the two star players missed crucial free throws, and with the Lakers two points ahead, Davis made two missed throws that gave the Magic the chance to win – which Wagner took and converted. For Los Angeles it was the first defeat after six wins in a row. The Magic are back in third place in the Eastern Conference after their tenth win of the season.
