BERLIN — There was much celebrating of the German-born NBA players who helped lead a big comeback for their team Thursday evening, as well as a lamenting of the one star who wasn’t out there.
The Orlando Magic fought from 20 points down to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 118-111, behind 26 points and 13 rebounds from Paolo Banchero in Game 1 of a two-game NBA Global Games series between these teams. The contest was held in Berlin, where Orlando teammates and brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner were born, raised, and on Thursday, adored by thousands of their childhood neighbors.
Franz Wagner returned after a 16-game absence from a high-ankle sprain to the delight of his home crowd, and though he showed some rust, he still scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and finished with nine rebounds. Moritz Wagner, who is four years older than his brother, added seven points, and Travis da Silva, who was born in Munich, contributed eight.
“Mentally, there was a lot coming into this week,” Franz said. “Working back from an injury is never easy, and then it was this game. It was a very emotional week. … I was happy to make some plays at the end.”
But before the game, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he was “disappointed” that Memphis’ former All-Star Ja Morant was out for the Berlin portion of the series.
Morant, a Nike brand ambassador who could be traded by Memphis before the Feb. 5 deadline, has now missed six consecutive games with a minor calf bruise. Earlier this week, he said he would “hopefully” play either Thursday in Berlin or Sunday in London, and Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said there was “a chance” that could happen.
“He has a tremendous following globally, and I wish he were able to play tonight,” Silver said. “I still am holding out hope he’ll be able to play when we are in London on Sunday. So yes, I’m disappointed he’s not on the floor tonight, but I understand he’s injured.”
The Grizzlies are not likely to be punished for violating the league’s player participation policy. Morant is a star, by the league’s standards, and both European games are national TV games in the U.S. However, Morant suffered a calf bruise two weeks ago, and the league can’t mandate how quickly a player returns to play. Morant is also upset over reports last week that he could be traded, and though his absence preceded those reports, Morant has been listed as “out” on the team’s injury list since word broke that he could be dealt. He had been considered “questionable” to play prior to the trade rumor. But the Grizzlies brought him to Europe with the hope that he could return to the court, and the NBA, obviously, would like him to play. There is also a Nike event planned to promote Morant’s shoe in London.
As for the Wagners, they not only grew up in Berlin, but both played in Alba Berlin’s expansive basketball program, first as youths and then as teenagers. They eventually became the youngest to ever play for Alba’s pro team before leaving Germany for the University of Michigan, and then the NBA. Franz hadn’t played since suffering a severe sprain on Dec. 7 against the New York Knicks, and this was Moritz’s second game this season after undergoing knee surgery last year.
The Wagners played host to their teammates all week in Berlin, showing them sights and taking many of them to dinner. They also spent time practicing with Alba Berlin youth teams. Franz shot 6-of-16 overall but was 3-of-4 from 3-point range in his first game in more than a month.
Thursday also marked former Memphis star Desmond Bane’s first game against his old team since he was traded to Orlando last summer. Bane finished with 13 points. Grizzlies star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. paced Memphis with 30 points.
