The inaugural NBA contest held in Berlin became particularly unforgettable due to the Orlando Magic’s comeback from a 20-point disadvantage during the second period, ultimately securing a 118-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The team from Orlando found themselves behind 52-32 with 8:02 left in the second quarter after a Jaren Jackson Jr. floater. However, the Magic initiated their reduction of this substantial gap from that point. A mere five minutes later, Orlando narrowed the lead to 52-42 thanks to two free throws from Tristan da Silva. An 11-0 scoring spree by the Magic was eventually halted by a three-pointer from Santi Aldama. Nevertheless, Orlando persisted with its recovery, reducing the difference to 67-58 by halftime, courtesy of a Paolo Banchero three-pointer with 2.5 seconds left on the clock.
The intermission did not diminish Orlando’s momentum whatsoever, as the Magic dominated Memphis 26-12 in scoring during the third quarter. Consecutive three-pointers from Franz Wagner and Anthony Black brought the Grizzlies’ advantage down to 69-64, and Orlando further closed the gap to two points with a Banchero jumper at the 10:23 mark. Orlando eventually seized the lead less than two minutes subsequently, with another three-pointer from Black putting them ahead 71-70.
Anthony Black undeniably sealed the win, delivering an unforgettable highlight with a powerful dunk over four Grizzlies players in the paint with 2:27 left, which propelled Orlando to a 109-107 advantage.
This particular contest, held at Berlin’s Uber Arena, marked the NBA’s inaugural regular-season fixture within Germany. Notably, three members of the Orlando roster—Franz and Moritz Wagner, alongside da Silva—hail from Germany. Orlando and Memphis are scheduled for a rematch in London on Sunday. These games form a component of the NBA’s strategy to bolster its appeal across Europe and lay groundwork for the establishment of a European league in collaboration with FIBA.
Paolo Banchero spearheaded Orlando’s performance, registering 26 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Anthony Black contributed 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists, converting 4 of his 7 three-point attempts. Franz Wagner chipped in with 18 points and 9 rebounds, 5 of which were on the offensive glass. This victory elevated the Magic’s record to 23-18, placing them a half-game ahead of the Cleveland Cavaliers for the sixth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Jaren Jackson topped the scoring for Memphis with 30 points, successfully making 3 out of 5 three-point shots. Santi Aldama provided 18 points as a reserve, hitting all four of his three-point attempts. Desmond Bane tallied 13 points in his initial contest against his previous squad since his trade to Orlando in June. Cedric Coward also chipped in with 17 points for the Grizzlies, whose record fell to 17-23 following this loss. This positions them at tenth in the Western Conference standings, level with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The upcoming game between the Magic and Grizzlies in London is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. ET this Sunday. Memphis is anticipating the return of star guard Ja Morant, who was absent from Thursday’s match due to a right calf ailment.
