Franz Wagner is out with an abdominal muscle injury

Franz Wagner will only be a spectator in the NBA for an indefinite period of time; the world champion has suffered a serious injury. “It was a bitter blow – especially because the season has gone so well up to this point,” the Orlando Magic basketball star told the Süddeutsche Zeitung. The Berliner is out with a torn oblique abdominal muscle, although weeks ago he didn’t even know “that such a thing existed”.

With an average of 24.4 points per game, Wagner is number 16 in the North American professional league. Before his retirement, he put up one 30-point game after the next and was well on his way to becoming an all-star for the first time. Nothing will come of it, but the 23-year-old is still looking forward. “I have now decided to see the positive,” says Wagner: “For me personally: that the rest of my body gets a bit of rest; that my head can rest a little and I can briefly reflect on the season so far.”

Wagner also wants to make something of the bad situation in view of the team, which started the season brilliantly. For example, he now has the opportunity to “look at the game from the outside and help his teammates. That others have the chance to prove themselves. That there is a world in which we will be better as a team afterwards.”

Basically, the injury is “a test of passion,” but one must “always be clear: it could be worse. I’m still lucky to be in this position.”

The football sensation in the USA is perfect: coaching icon Bill Belichick is not returning to the NFL and will instead coach the University of North Carolina team in the future. “I grew up around college football with my father and really enjoyed that time,” said the 72-year-old. “I always wanted to coach in college and am now looking forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill. “

According to media reports, Belichick will receive $30 million for his three-year contract with the Tar Heels. The former coach of the New England Patriots, who won the Super Bowl six times with the NFL franchise from near Boston during his 24-year tenure, is following in the footsteps of his father Steve – who was an assistant coach in North Carolina 70 years ago.

Belichick left the Patriots after the 2023 season. In the current season, the coach, under whom Tom Brady became a quarterback idol, is active as a TV expert. Belichick had been linked to several NFL teams in recent weeks, but now decided to take a different route.

The New York Knicks missed the NBA Cup semifinals. Without German rookie Ariel Hukporti, Karl-Anthony Towns’ team lost to the Atlanta Hawks 100:108. The Hawks’ best thrower, who are now playing against the Milwaukee Bucks for a place in the finals, was De’Andre Hunter with 24 points.

For the Knicks, Josh Hart led the way with 21 points, Towns contributed 19 points and 19 rebounds. Meanwhile, Hukporti should gain match practice with the New York youth team.

The second duel of the evening was close. Thanks to 26 points from Alperen Sengün, the Houston Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors 91:90 and also reached the Final Four in Las Vegas. There they will meet Oklahoma City Thunder with Isaiah Hartenstein in the semifinals of the tournament, which also counts for the NBA main round.

The Houston Rockets knocked the Golden State Warriors out of the NBA Cup thanks to a controversial referee decision and were the last team to book a ticket to the Final Four in Las Vegas. At 91:90, the hosts turned the game around with a 7-0 run in the last three minutes and will meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in the semifinals on Saturday. A situation that was considered a foul with 3.5 seconds left caused excitement, allowing the Rockets to make two free throws that decided the game.

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” complained Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “This is a billion-dollar industry. People lose their jobs because of something like that.” He doesn’t think “even a referee in elementary school would have made that decision,” said Kerr angrily. “We wanted to go to Vegas and win the Cup.”

The Warriors had not lost to the Rockets since the outbreak of the corona pandemic and looked like the winner in this game too, despite being behind for a long time. In the final quarter, Stephen Curry’s stars turned the game around and led by seven points. But then in the final minutes there were only three throw attempts, none of which found their way into the basket – and the situation when several players on the floor fought for the ball, which resulted in free throws for Houston.

In the other quarterfinal, the Atlanta Hawks beat the New York Knicks 108:100. The Hawks face the Milwaukee Bucks in the gambling metropolis.

Successful evening for ice hockey professional Tim Stützle: The 22-year-old celebrated a clear 5-1 win against the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators. The German international contributed two assists to the success and has a total of 36 points scorer after 28 games.

“It was a great performance by the whole team and a really good win,” said Stützle: “When we move so well, we are difficult to defend.” The player of the game was Drake Batherson, who scored three goals.

Stützle himself is having a strong season. According to projections, the left-handed shooter, who was taken third in the 2020 draft, could crack the magical 100-point mark after the 82 main round games, for the first time in his career.

The match day was less positive for John Jason Peterka. The Buffalo Sabers professional and his team lost 2:3 to the New York Rangers. Peterka collected his tenth assist of the season and has 18 scorer points after 27 appearances. The Sabers are seventh in the Atlantic Division, Ottawa is two places higher.