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For 3 quarters Sunday evening, Franz Wagner regarded like he may be headed for considered one of his most irritating offensive performances. The c ahead had scored solely two factors, struggled along with his taking pictures and watched his crew fall behind the defending NBA champion s.
Then the fourth quarter started.
Wagner scored 21 factors within the closing interval, serving to Orlando erase a double-digit deficit and defeat New York 111-102 at Madison Sq. Backyard. The outstanding turnaround gave the Magic their first victory of the season. It additionally left the Knicks going through an uncomfortable piece of NBA historical past.
New York turned the primary defending champion to open a season with three consecutive losses for the reason that s in 2011-12.
From a tough evening to an unbelievable end
Wagner wasn't discovering a lot success offensively through the opening three quarters. He began the sport making simply considered one of his first 10 photographs, struggling to generate the type of manufacturing Orlando sometimes expects from considered one of its most vital gamers.
Franz Wagner dropped 21 POINTS in This fall 🔥 He completed with 23 PTS, 13 REB (career-high), and 9 AST to guide the @OrlandoMagic to victory on the highway! https://t.co/yFwG0wekJ3
— NBA (@NBA) 6
The Magic additionally confronted a tough task with out Paolo Banchero, their main scorer.
New York appeared able to take benefit. The Knicks jumped forward 12-0 early and finally constructed a 10-point lead through the fourth quarter. With 9:20 remaining, OG Anunoby scored to place New York forward 86-76.
The defending champions appeared positioned to earn their first victory of the season. As a substitute, Wagner utterly modified the sport. He scored 9 factors throughout an 11-0 Orlando run, serving to the Magic take an 87-86 lead with 7:25 remaining.
The momentum by no means absolutely returned to New York.
Orlando outscored the Knicks 40-27 within the fourth quarter, together with a 35-16 benefit over the ultimate nine-plus minutes. Wagner completed with 23 factors, 13 rebounds and 9 assists.
His closing stat line was spectacular, however the distribution of these factors made the efficiency extraordinary. Twenty-one of his 23 factors got here within the closing 12 minutes.
The defending champions have an actual drawback
New York entered the season with monumental expectations after successful the NBA championship. Three video games later, the Knicks are nonetheless looking for their first victory.
Jalen Brunson scored 28 factors towards Orlando, whereas Karl-Anthony Cities contributed 22 factors and 14 rebounds. Anunoby additionally completed with 22 factors.
These performances ought to have given New York an affordable alternative to win. However the Knicks struggled to guard the basketball when the sport turned uncomfortable. New York dedicated eight of its 14 turnovers within the fourth quarter, serving to Orlando flip defensive stops into offensive alternatives.
The collapse was significantly irritating as a result of the Knicks had already established a major benefit. As a substitute of ending the sport, New York allowed Wagner to take management. The Knicks haven't gained since Sport 5 of final season's NBA Finals, a tough actuality for a crew attempting to start its title protection.
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Orlando wanted somebody to take cost
The victory was additionally vital for Orlando. The Magic entered the sport with out Banchero and misplaced Jalen Suggs to a knee harm through the fourth quarter.
These circumstances may have made one other defeat comprehensible. As a substitute, Wagner delivered the type of particular person efficiency that may change the course of a crew's early season.
Anthony Black added 18 factors in his return from an ankle harm, whereas Orlando acquired vital perimeter taking pictures from Tristan da Silva and Desmond Bane.
The win was the primary for the Magic below head coach Sean Sweeney.
For New York, the problem is avoiding a chronic championship hangover. For Orlando, Sunday's end result offered a reminder that one extraordinary quarter can utterly change a sport.
Wagner scored two factors within the first three quarters. He scored 21 within the fourth. And by the ultimate buzzer, the defending NBA champions have been 0-3.
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