Paolo Banchero collected 26 points and 13 rebounds as the Orlando Magic rallied to a 118-111 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday in the NBA’s first regular-season game in Berlin.
Banchero made 9 of 16 shots from the floor for the Magic, who overcame a 20-point deficit due in large part to outscoring the Grizzlies by a 26-12 margin in the third quarter. The 12 points represented the fewest Orlando has allowed in a quarter this season.
The pronounced push provided a happy homecoming for German-born players Franz Wagner, Moe Wagner and Tristan da Silva. Franz Wagner recorded 18 points and nine rebounds in his return from a 16-game absence due to an ankle injury, Moe Wagner had seven points in his second game back from a torn ACL and da Silva added eight points.
Anthony Black matched Banchero with four 3-pointers and finished with 21 points. Desmond Bane added 13 points in his first game against his former team since being traded from the Grizzlies on July 1.
Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 30 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost seven of their last nine games heading into the rematch versus the Magic on Sunday in London.
Santi Aldama contributed 18 points and Cedric Coward added 17 for Memphis, which played without Ja Morant (right calf contusion) for the sixth straight game.
Aldama sank two free throws to bring the Grizzlies to within two points at 111-109 with 1:46 remaining in the fourth quarter. Franz Wagner responded with three free throws of his own and a floating jumper to essentially seal the win.
Vince Williams Jr. sank two free throws, a pull-up jumper and two 3-pointers in a 150-second stretch to stake Memphis to a 103-102 lead with 4:29 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Coward drained a 3-pointer and Jackson sank a short jumper to push Memphis’ advantage to 52-32 early in the second quarter before Orlando went to work. The Magic trimmed the deficit to nine (67-58) at halftime and claimed a 71-70 lead after Black made a 3-pointer early in the third quarter.
–Field Level Media
