Franz Wagner and Zaccharie Risacher Shine with 24-Point Performances in Preseason Finale

German Franz Wagner led the Orlando Magic to a 132-125 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Kia Center, scoring a game-high 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting. In addition to his scoring, the 24-year-old combo forward contributed three assists and two steals in 25 minutes of play, wrapping up the NBA Preseason 2025. The Magic showcased additional European talent, with German Tristan da Silva netting seven points, Georgian Goga Bitadze adding six, and French Noah Penda contributing a single point, while German Moritz Wagner was absent due to injury. Croatian Karlo Matkovic, meanwhile, remained on the bench for this final preseason match.

In a different matchup, French Zaccharie Risacher also tallied 24 points, and Latvian Kristaps Porzingis recorded a double-double with 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Atlanta Hawks, who fell 133-115 to the Houston Rockets at State Farm Arena. Czech Vit Krejci scored three points, while Spanish Eli Ndiaye and Serbian players did not see action in the last exhibition before the start of the 2025-26 Regular Season. The Rockets opted to rest both Turkish Alperen Sengun and Swiss Clint Capela.

Finnish player Lauri Markkanen and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk each scored 15 points, aiding the Utah Jazz to a narrow 132-129 win against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Delta Center. Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic provided 12 points off the bench. On the opposing sideline, Israeli Deni Avdija managed eight points before leaving the game due to upper back stiffness. French teammates Sidy Cissoko and Rayan Rupert added seven and three points, respectively, while Belgian Toumani Camara did not participate.

French Alex Sarr finished the preseason with ten points and nine rebounds, yet the Washington Wizards fell 119-98 to the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. His fellow starter, Swiss Kyshawn George, matched the game’s highest score with 20 points, while Serbian Tristan Vukcevic contributed seven points. French Bilal Coulibaly did not play in this matchup, and for the Pistons, Swedish player Bobi Klintman scored two points.

Lithuanian Matas Buzelis scored 19 points, and Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 126-120 at the United Center. French Noa Essengue contributed two points to the Bulls’ effort. For the Timberwolves, French Rudy Gobert scored 12 points, Italian Donte DiVincenzo recorded nine, and French Joan Beringer finished with four points.

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