Winning streak broken: The Wagner brothers’ NBA high flight with the Orlando Magic has stopped for now. After six recent successes, the German basketball world champions and their team lost 93:104 at the Los Angeles Clippers.
Franz Wagner, who recently broke the 30-point mark three times, had 14 points. His older brother Moritz scored ten points, as did rookie Tristan Da Silva. Orlando now has nine wins and six defeats.
Zum Match-Center: Los Angeles Clippers vs. Orlando Magic
Meanwhile, Isaiah Hartenstein celebrated a successful debut for the Oklahoma City Thunder. In the 109:99 win against the Portland Trail Blazers, the German, who signed a mega contract with Oklahoma in the summer but missed the start of the season due to a broken hand, achieved a double-double of 13 points and 14 rebounds. OKC, which had its best thrower in Jalen Williams (30 points), moved to second place in the Western Conference with its twelfth win of the season.
“It was the first time I had been out for so long. To go out there, contribute a little bit and help the team was great“, reported the center. His team was “been very supportive in this process, which was very special for me“. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault praised Hartenstein: “He was great. He came with great energy and brought life into our game.“
Zum Match-Center: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Portland Trail Blazers
The Cleveland Cavaliers were also able to get their next win. The Cavs, whose series of 15 successes at the start of the season had recently been broken, won clearly with 128:100 against the New Orleans Pelicans, for whom world champion Daniel Theis was not used. With 16 wins in 17 games, Cleveland remains in first place in the Eastern Conference, while the Pelicans (record: 4:12) are second to last in the West after their third defeat in a row.
Zum Match-Center: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. New Orleans Pelicans
German rookie Ariel Hukporti was once again not used in the New York Knicks’ 138:122 win at the Phoenix Suns.
Zum Match-Center: Phoenix Suns vs. New York Knicks
LeBron James turns his back on X
Meanwhile, NBA superstar LeBron James was not in action, so he had time to take care of private matters. The “King” is withdrawing from social media for an indefinite period of time. The record-setting basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers, who has a total of around 212 million followers on his Instagram and X accounts, justified his decision with negative reporting in the US media. “I’m quitting social media for now. Take care of yourselves“James wrote on X.
In announcing his break, the 39-year-old also shared a post from Rich Kleiman, NBA star Kevin Durant’s longtime agent. “With so much hate and negativity in the world today, it baffles me why some of the national sports media still think negative views are the best way to cover sports“, Kleiman wrote on X, James commented with a single word: “AMEN!!”
This isn’t the first time James has stepped away from social media. The record points scorer has taken breaks before, but usually to focus on basketball.
More games
Milwaukee Bucks 122:106 Chicago Bulls
Houston Rockets 130:113 Indiana Pacers
Memphis Grizzlies 117:111 Philadelphia 76ers
Golden State Warriors 120:97 Atlanta Hawks
