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Alarm interrupts Magic coach Mosley during Game 6 media availability

A false fire alarm cut short Jamahl Mosley's pregame press conference as he discussed injured forward Franz Wagner's potential return for a Game 7.

3 min
Alarm interrupts Magic coach Mosley during Game 6 media availability
A false fire alarm cut short Jamahl Mosley's pregame press conference as he discussed injured forward Franz Wagner's potCredit · Yahoo Sports

Key facts

  • Alarm sounded at Orlando's Kia Center during Magic coach Jamahl Mosley's pregame media availability before Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons.
  • The alarm began as Mosley was asked whether injured forward Franz Wagner might play in a potential Game 7.
  • Mosley said, 'That's not a good sign,' as the horns blared.
  • A computerized voice gave evacuation instructions while Mosley continued answering the question.
  • The alarm returned seconds later, prompting Mosley to end the session: 'All right, that's good, thank you, appreciate it.'
  • A team official confirmed the alarm was false.
  • Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff's pregame media session, starting about 10 minutes later, proceeded without interruption.
  • The Magic held a 3-2 series lead heading into Game 6.

A jarring interruption

The fire alarm system at Orlando's Kia Center erupted during Magic coach Jamahl Mosley's pregame media availability on Friday night, just as a reporter asked about injured forward Franz Wagner's availability for a potential Game 7. The timing could not have been more ironic: the question itself broached the possibility of a decisive seventh game against the Detroit Pistons, and the alarm seemed to reject the very thought. Mosley, standing at the podium, reacted with a wry comment as the horns began. 'That's not a good sign,' he said, his voice competing with the blaring sirens.

Mosley presses on, then cuts short

Despite the disruption, Mosley continued to answer the question, explaining that Wagner's participation depended entirely on his response to treatment. A computerized voice issued evacuation instructions to anyone in the building, yet Mosley held his ground for a few more seconds. Then the alarm sounded again. This time, Mosley decided it was enough. 'All right, that's good, thank you, appreciate it,' he said, effectively ending the media session. The room emptied as the alarm continued.

False alarm confirmed

A team official later confirmed that the alarm was false. No actual emergency existed. The irony was not lost on observers: the alarm that interrupted talk of a Game 7 was itself a false signal. Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff's pregame media session, which began about 10 minutes after Mosley's concluded, went off without any alarms. The contrast underscored the bizarre nature of the incident.

Stakes high for Game 6

The Magic entered Game 6 with a 3-2 lead in the first-round playoff series, meaning a win would close out the series and avoid a Game 7. Wagner, a key forward, had been sidelined with an injury, and his potential return in a Game 7 was a topic of intense speculation. Mosley's truncated availability left some questions unanswered, but the coach had already made clear that Wagner's status would be determined day by day. The false alarm, however, provided an unexpected moment of levity in an otherwise tense playoff atmosphere.

A playoff narrative twist

The incident quickly became a footnote in the broader playoff narrative, but it highlighted the superstitious undercurrents that often accompany high-stakes games. The alarm's interruption of a question about Game 7 felt almost scripted, as if the building itself refused to entertain the notion of a decisive match. For Mosley, the moment was a brief distraction from the task at hand: preparing his team to close out the series. The false alarm, while disruptive, did not alter the fundamental stakes of the evening.

The bottom line

  • A false fire alarm interrupted Magic coach Jamahl Mosley's pregame press conference before Game 6 against the Pistons.
  • The alarm sounded as Mosley was asked about injured forward Franz Wagner's potential return for a Game 7.
  • Mosley initially continued answering but ended the session after the alarm returned.
  • A team official confirmed the alarm was false; no emergency occurred.
  • Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff's later media session was unaffected.
  • The Magic held a 3-2 series lead and aimed to close out the series in Game 6.
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