Wagner had a season-high in points and a career-high in assists during Thursday's game at Crypto.com Arena.
Franz Wagner delivered a performance for the ages on Thursday night, guiding the Orlando Magic to a thrilling 119-118 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. The win handed the Lakers their first home defeat of the season and snapped their six-game winning streak in dramatic fashion.
Wagner, who was already having an impressive season, took his game to another level, finishing with 37 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals, and 4 three-pointers. His season-high points and career-high assists were capped off by a clutch triple with just 5 seconds remaining, putting the Magic ahead for good.
The 22-year-old forward has notched up his performance since Paolo Banchero’s injury. Over the past 12 games, he’s averaged 25.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 6.3 assists, stepping up as the primary offensive weapon for the Magic in the absence of Banchero.
With this game, Wagner became the youngest forward to record a 35-point, 10-assist game since LeBron James in 2007, marking yet another milestone in a memorable night.
If Wagner maintains his current pace, he will join Banchero and Tracy McGrady as the only players in Magic history to average 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a month.
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Wagner has produced consistent performance throughout his four-year NBA career, but his contributions often fly under the radar. However, the 23-year-old doesn’t mind being the sleeper.
“I don’t play basketball for the attention. Those moments when my teammates are super happy for me—that’s what I cherish. It’s not about the fame or recognition. It’s about the joy we share as a team”, Wagner said after the game.
While Wagner was the hero, the Lakers’ Anthony Davis had a mixed night. Davis was dominant early on, carrying the Lakers through the first three quarters. However, he faltered in the fourth, missing two crucial free throws with 28 seconds left and a chance to seal the game. The missed free throws proved costly, as Wagner’s clutch three-pointer left the Lakers no time to recover.
Despite Davis’ struggles late in the game, he finished with a game-high 39 points, 9 rebounds, and two assists.
Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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