German forward Franz Wagner hit his stride late to help the Orlando Magic rally for a 118-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday in the first NBA regular-season game ever played in Germany.<\/p>\n
The Grizzlies did their best to spoil the return of Orlando’s Wagner brothers, Franz and Moritz, to their home country in the showcase game in Berlin.<\/p>\n
Memphis led by as many as 20 points in the first half before the Magic stepped it up on the defensive end to turn the tide.<\/p>\n
Orlando surrendered 39 points in the first quarter, but allowed Memphis just 40 in the next two periods combined, Franz Wagner pointing to Orlando’s 26-12 third quarter dominance as the difference-maker.<\/p>\n
Wagner called it “super-special” to have a chance to show his Magic teammates around Berlin, the city where he grew up.<\/p>\n
He said it wasn’t just the emotion of the trip that accounted for his slow start but also some rustiness as he returned from a 16-game absence with a high ankle sprain.<\/p>\n
“It was a lot coming into this week,” Wagner said of the extra media demands surrounding the historic game.<\/p>\n
“Obviously working back from an injury isn’t ever easy, and then it being this game, a very emotional week. Also a taxing week because we did a lot of stuff because we want to maximize our time here.<\/p>\n
“I’m not making any excuses, though. Once you decide to play you’ve got to be ready.<\/p>\n
“I was happy to make some plays at the end,” added Wagner, who scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n
Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 26 points and 13 rebounds. Anthony Black added 21 points, six rebounds and seven assists.<\/p>\n
Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies with 30 points, but after a red-hot shooting start the Grizzlies connected on just 33.3% of their attempts from the field in the second half.<\/p>\n
Grizzlies star Ja Morant, recently the subject of trade rumors, was again sidelined with a calf injury but could take the floor when the two teams continue their European tour with a clash in London on Sunday.<\/p>\n
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