Basketball: Wagner brothers with their first win – Hartenstein loses
Franz and Moritz Wagner celebrated their first taste of success in their play-off debut in the NBA. The world champions and Orlando Magic won the third round of 16 against the Cleveland Cavaliers at home with 121:83 and averted a quick exit in the professional basketball league. After the two opening defeats, the team from Florida shortened the best-of-seven series to 1:2; it was Orlando's first home win in the play-offs since 2011.
As usual, Franz Wagner was in the starting five and had 16 points, five rebounds and eight assists. “You can only win games like this if you play play after play,” said Wagner: “We did the simple things and our energy was great. We need a similar performance in the next games.”
His older brother Moritz managed two points and six rebounds in just under 18 minutes. The Magic's match winner was Paolo Banchero with 31 points and 14 rebounds. The 38-point difference was the third-largest margin in a playoff game in Magic history.
Meanwhile, German center Isaiah Hartenstein suffered his first defeat in the play-offs with the New York Knicks. The Knicks lost to the Philadelphia 76ers 114-125, but are still up 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Hartenstein's 14 points and four rebounds, as well as 39 points from Jalen Brunson, were not enough, as Joel Embiid scored 50 points on the other side.
The Los Angeles Lakers around superstar LeBron James are on the verge of elimination against defending champion Denver Nuggets, trailing 0-3 in the series after 105:112. 26 points from James and a double-double from Anthony Davis (33 points/15 rebounds) were not enough for the first win. Nikola Jokic (24/15) and Aaron Gordon (29/15) stood out for the Nuggets.
Ice hockey: Florida and Carolina shortly before the next playoff round
The Florida Panthers and the Carolina Hurricanes are on the verge of moving into the second round of the NHL playoffs. Both teams also won their third game of the first round series in the North American Ice Hockey League on Thursday (local time) and only need one win to advance.
The Panthers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-3 after last year's finalist won the first two games at home. Matthew Tkachuk scored twice for Florida. After the 26-year-old attacker took a 1-0 lead in the first period, Tkachuk scored into an empty net with 30 seconds left in the game when Tampa Bay took its goalkeeper off the ice for a sixth skater.
The Carolina Hurricanes won the third game at the New York Islanders 3:2 (2:0, 1:2, 0:0). Defenders Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov each scored once for the guests in the first eleven minutes, and Sebastian Aho gave the visitors a 3-1 lead in the second half. Carolina made it to the semifinals last season, but fell to Florida.
Football: Chicago drafts quarterback Williams number one
As expected, quarterback Caleb Williams was drafted number one in the US football league NFL. The Chicago Bears chose the 22-year-old from the University of Southern California first when selecting talent in Detroit. Williams won the Heisman Trophy for the best college player in 2022 and will receive a four-year contract worth $38.8 million in Chicago.
“It took a lot of sacrifice, love, the will to win the football game and my teammates, my coaches and my family,” Williams said of becoming a first overall pick. In second place, the Washington Commanders took quarterback Jayden Daniels from Louisiana State University, and in third place the New England Patriots also chose a quarterback, Drake Maye from North Carolina.
A total of five quarterbacks were selected in the top ten of the draft; defensive players were not included among the top picks. In the NFL Draft, the 32 teams are allowed to select young players; the worst teams from the previous season are in line first. However, positions can be swapped.
As expected, the registered German talents were not selected in the first round. Offensive lineman Brandon Coleman (German-American from Berlin) and defensive lineman Julius Welschof (Miesbach/Bavaria) have to hope for draft rounds two to seven scheduled for the weekend.
#sports #compact #Wagner #brothers #victory #Hartenstein #loses