Franz Wagner's 38 points lead Magic past Pistons

Field Level Media|published: Sun 4th February, 17:41 2024

Feb 4, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) is defended by Detroit Pistons forward Bojan Bogdanovic (44) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. credits: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Franz Wagner poured in 38 points and the visiting Orlando Magic defeated the host Detroit Pistons 111-99 Sunday.

Wagner made 17 of 25 field goal attempts as Orlando won its third straight. Paolo Banchero had 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds, while Moritz Wagner and Gary Harris scored 10 points apiece.

Jaden Ivey and Cade Cunningham scored 18 points apiece for the Pistons. Ausar Thompson had 17 points and seven rebounds, while Jalen Duren added 15 points.

The Magic trailed by nine in the first quarter but held a 50-47 lead at halftime. Banchero and Franz Wagner combined for 23 points while Ivey led the Pistons with 16 points.

Both teams struggled with their perimeter shooting prior to the break. Orlando made 4-of-13 3-point attempts while Detroit only knocked down 2-of-11 attempts from distance.

Cunningham and Bogdanovic hit 3-pointers early in the third quarter as Detroit pulled within a point. Midway through the quarter, the Magic had a 7-0 spurt with Franz Wagner scoring all the points. He made a pair of layups before making a pullup 3-pointer.

He added a putback dunk with 4:13 left in the quarter to give the Magic a 74-64 lead. Banchero extended the lead to 12 with a mid-range jumper.

Detroit scored the last four points of the quarter, including a Thompson dunk, to cut the Magic's lead to 78-75.

Alec Burks tied it with a three-point play 13 seconds into the quarter, but a Harris 3-pointer and Wagner basket put Orlando back on top by five points.

Harris' 3-pointer with 8:20 remaining made it 93-87. Wagner fired in a 3-pointer off a Banchero pass with 6:44 left for a 98-90 advantage.

Franz Wagner supplied a layup and 3-pointer on Orlando's next two possessions to increase the lead to 103-94. The Magic went scoreless for nearly three minutes but the Pistons shaved only three points off the deficit.

Wagner's layup with 2:25 to go gave Orlando a 105-97 lead. Banchero followed with two free throws and Wagner tacked on a layup in the final minute.

- Field Level Media

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