Magic Stun Pistons After Sneaking Through Play-In
The Orlando Magic barely snuck into the playoffs. Barely may be an understatement, but they had to win a do-or-die contest to make it. But after one game against the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, they certainly don't look like a team that narrowly scraped by, losing one of two Play-In games.
Orlando dominates Detroit in stunner
The Orlando Magic have found new life. After beating the Charlotte Hornets, they went into Detroit and took a physical game to the most physical team in the NBA, the Pistons. Despite a major difference in record, the Magic pushed the Pistons around enough to escape with a 112-101 win in the series opener.
"Well this a new season," head coach Jahmal Mosley said. "We have talked about this a lot with these guys. Whatever story you told yourself during the regular season, that story is done. Now it's the playoffs. It's an entirely new season."
The Magic are playing like it, and while there are still several games left for this to pivot back into Detroit's favor, they have certainly stunned and captured the attention of the top-seeded Pistons.
Magic comment on huge win
Prior to the Play-In win on Friday, the Magic had been struggling, and they seemed destined for major disappointment. But something clicked in the 121-90 throttling of the previously red-hot Charlotte Hornets, and it taught them something.
"I think everybody knows we got a really talented team," said Franz Wagner. "Obviously we didn't have the regular season that we wanted, but that's our goal. And I think we show today that we belong here." The star had 19 points, 11 of which came in the fourth quarter as Orlando held off a Detroit rally.
"We found something against Charlotte with our defense and our energy and our communication," star forward Paolo Banchero said. Banchero has been key, as his play being up to standard is the biggest difference between the old Magic and the team that has shown up in the last two games.
"I thought Paolo's dominance in his approach to the game was excellent," Jamahl Mosley said. "His voice, his command on the floor, his court presence was special. I think that's how the team follows. When he has that presence, it's something to be seen. His aggression downhill, attacking, stepping into a shot with a high level of confidence, finding the matchups that he wanted."
Read More
Pistons respond to home loss
Getting the top seed and getting the, in theory, worst team coming out of the Play-In Tournament is a huge advantage in the NBA playoffs. It might've hurt the Pistons, as they might've come out underestimating the Magic, just like the Hornets did before them.
"Just not coming out ready to play," Pistons forward Ausar Thompson said. "They came out and they hit us first. So, we have to do a better job of coming out and hitting them first and executing our coverages better."
Cade Cunningham continues to ramp up after recently coming back from a collapsed lung. "I really felt great," said Cunningham. "It's been a lot of time in between today and the injury for me now. I've had great preparation -- training staff, weight room staff -- everybody's put a lot of time in with me. There was a stint towards the end [of the game] that I was a little tired. I came out for a minute or two, coach got me a break, and then after that, I felt good to finish the game."
Healthy or not, and it appears he is fully healthy, the Magic didn't care. He had over 30 points, and it didn't matter much to Orlando, which had a much more well-rounded offensive attack.
