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The Knicks are almost unstoppable: Franz Wagner (r.)

Photo: John Raoux / AP

Basketball world champion Franz Wagner continues to play big in the NBA. With a personal season-best of 32 points, the 22-year-old led his Orlando Magic to a 117-108 (55-44) home win over the New York Knicks on Friday (local time). Wagner also grabbed nine rebounds and won four turnovers.

In the last five games in the North American Basketball League, he has averaged 26.8 points. "I play aggressively and make the right moves – when you do that, you also make easy shots," Wagner said of his run.

In the final period alone, the winger scored ten points and repeatedly extended Orlando's lead into double digits. Franz's brother Moritz Wagner had seven points and eleven rebounds, while German Isaiah Hartenstein scored seven points for the Knicks.

19,587 spectators watched the game at Orlando's Kia Center. Never before in the club's history had more spectators come to a home game. The euphoria seems to have come at the right time. "It's an important phase of the season," said Franz Wagner.

Schroeder out of playoff places with Toronto

The Magic are in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and are on course for the playoffs. The Toronto Raptors around national team captain Dennis Schröder, on the other hand, are only twelfth. The team from Canada lost narrowly 118-120 (53-68) at the leader Boston Celtics.

With 32 seconds left in the game, Boston's Luke Kornet scored for a decisive 118-116 lead. Schroeder came off the bench for the second game in a row and scored 15 points and nine assists. For Toronto, it was the fourth defeat from the last five games.

Daniel Theis led the Los Angeles Clippers to a 117-106 (59-54) victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Theis finished with five points and two blocks. With eleven wins from the last 13 games, the Clippers have worked their way up to fourth place in the Western Conference.

Thunder continue to surprise

The surprise team of the NBA remains the Oklahoma City Thunder. The second-placed team in the West defeated the Denver Nuggets 119-93 (54-48) on the road and stopped the defending champions' run of six wins in a row. Canadian international Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with 40 points.

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