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EspañolFollowing Saturday’s practice ahead of Sunday’s game against the top team in the East, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley described Orlando‘s matchup with Detroit as a “big game” for the team to understand where it stands “in a lot of ways.”
Playing in front of a sold-out Kia Center, the Magic learned there is still a significant gap between themselves and the leading team in their conference.
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham, a top candidate for league MVP, scored 10 of his 29 points in the third quarter when Detroit outscored Orlando 31-18 in the frame before going onto capture a 106-92 road victory.
Although the Magic led by as many as nine points in the first half and scored 14 points off 13 takeaways, the Pistons scored 26 points off 19 Orlando turnovers.
In addition to Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management), the Magic were without Anthony Black, who was ruled out pre-game due to a right quad bruise.
Detroit (45-14) not only outrebounded Orlando 55-42 but it also held a 66-32 scoring advantage in the paint.
The Magic (31-28) continue their four-game homestand Tuesday at Kia Center against the Wizards.
Starting 5
Without Black, Mosley re-inserted Jalen Suggs into the team’s starting lineup alongside Desmond Bane, Tristan da Silva, Paolo Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. against Detroit.
Suggs, who came off the bench after returning from injury last game, hit the team’s first 3-pointer late in the first quarter and opened 2 for 3 from distance for an eight-point first half. Still on a minutes restriction, Suggs played a total of 26, finishing with 14 points.
Including a transition dunk off a lob from Suggs, da Silva made his first five shots from the floor, including two 3-pointers in the second quarter to post 14 points before the break. The Magic forward added a third triple in the third quarter to end with 19 points and six rebounds.
Banchero lead all scorers at the half with 17 points, most of which came at the free throw line. He shot 12 for 14 from the charity stripe in the first two quarters alone.
Helping defend Cunningham at times, Banchero slowed down in the third quarter, scoring just three points in the frame. He failed to take care of the ball throughout the night, turning it over nine times.
Bane’s first make from distance tied the game at 83 early in the fourth, but he shot 5 for 14 from the field overall for 17 points.
Lack of relief
Jevon Carter and Moe Wagner worked to provide a spark off the bench but it never martialized.
Carter, who recorded just his seventh career dunk of a steal-and-slam early in the second quarter, played 30 minutes but shot 1 for 6 from the field for just two points.
Wagner led Orlando’s reserves with nine points when he knocked down a triple and added three rebounds.
But Detroit’s reserves, behind 11 points from Ron Holland II, outscored Orlando’s bench 29-14.
3-point woes
Both the Pistons (No. 23) and the Magic (No. 25), entered the game in the bottom 10 league-wide in 3-point percentage, according to NBA.com.
And it showed Sunday.
Detroit missed its first 15 3-pointers to shoot 1 for 18 (5.6%) from distance in the first half. It ended 4 for 30 (13.3%) for the night.
Orlando wasn’t much better when it made five 3-pointers in both halves. The Magic ended 10 for 36 (27.8%) from distance.
Injury update
Mosley said before the game that Black had been dealing with a right quad bruise “for quite some time.”
The injury near his right knee had continued to get bumped and hit in games, Mosley said. Still, Sunday’s game was the first of the season Black missed because of injury.
“I think last game was one where it took its toll,” Mosley said.
Rookie watch
First-round pick Jase Richardson entered the game four minutes into the second quarter. He only saw three minutes of action and missed his lone shot.
Second-round pick Noah Penda didn’t see the floor.
Jason Beede can be reached at [email protected]