Franz Wagner pointed to composure and execution as the Orlando Magic closed out a 113-105 Game 3 win over the Detroit Pistons, a result that gave the No. 8 seed a 2-1 series lead.
“Yeah, it was good. They’re a great team. They’re going to make runs,” Wagner said. “I thought we did a good job all night just focusing on the next play.”
The forward emphasized a possession-by-possession mindset, especially after Detroit erased a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit. “If it’s tied, two points down, one up, whatever it is, you got to focus on the next play,” he said. “Play that play as good as you can.”
Orlando regained control late with a 9-0 run after losing the lead, a sequence Wagner credited to discipline during timeouts. “Sometimes timeouts are good to get you back in that mindset and then ready to go,” he said.
The German wing finished with 17 points and six assists, contributing as a secondary playmaker alongside Paolo Banchero, who recorded 25 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists.
Wagner said the group’s response after a lopsided Game 2 loss reflected internal belief. “Even though we lost game two, even by a lot, I feel like we just let one slip,” he said. “Still saw a lot of things that they capitalized on our mistakes.”
That perspective carried into Game 3, where the Magic corrected execution errors while maintaining confidence. “Whenever that’s the case, I think we have a lot of confidence about cleaning those up,” Wagner said.
Experience has also played a role, with Orlando now in its third postseason run together. “Having been in this position before is really important,” Wagner said. “Understanding runs of the game are going to happen and just being as consistent as possible.”
Wagner referenced prior playoff battles as part of the team’s development. “Sometimes you got to go through those experiences to grow and get better,” he said. “A lot of that is between the ears.”
His fourth-quarter production again proved critical, continuing a pattern of late-game scoring. Wagner linked that to preparation during a long recovery stretch earlier in the season. “The days where rehab gets really tough and boring… that’s when these goals… can be really important,” he said.
Spacing from Desmond Bane also changed the game’s geometry, as the guard hit seven three-pointers. “We need him shooting those,” Wagner said. “That opens up a whole new dimension for our group.”
Inside, Wendell Carter Jr. added 14 points and 17 rebounds, giving Orlando control of the glass against Detroit’s frontcourt.
With Game 4 set for Monday at the Kia Center, Wagner stressed short-term focus. “Just play another game on Monday. Stay focused,” he said. “The moment you look too far ahead, that’s when you’re not as focused as you can be.”
Orlando is now two wins away from completing a rare first-round upset, but Wagner’s approach remains unchanged. “Clean some mistakes out that we made,” he said. “I think that approach will get us to four hopefully as quick as possible.”
