The Orlando Magic have extended their series lead against the Eastern Conference champions to 3-1. In a low-scoring game, the Detroit Pistons once again found no answer to Orlando’s physical defense. Franz Wagner played one of his best games since returning from injury.
After a weak start to the series, the visitors focused from the outset on getting co-star Jalen Duren into the game. However, the attempt failed. The Pistons conceded seven turnovers in the first four minutes of the game. At the other end, the Magic – spurred on by a deafeningly loud crowd – played themselves into a veritable frenzy. Franz Wagner caused Detroit problems under the basket several times. Desmond Bane increased the score to +12 (19:7) from distance after just a few minutes on the clock.
However, it was to be the home side’s last successful field goal for a long time. The Pistons stuck to their tactic of sealing off the zone. The fact that Orlando remained completely cold from distance also played into their hands. As Cade Cunningham increasingly took control of the game, the Magic also lacked the switching moments in which they typically see their strengths. After two completely different halves of the first quarter, the game went into the second quarter on a fairly even footing (26:27).
The problems in offense continued here. A strong Isaiah Stewart, who blocked four shots by Orlando in the first half alone, was also responsible for that. Cunningham, who was once again the lone entertainer in attack, made it +10 (30:40) with a drive. A da Silva three finally ended the home side’s drought, which had been largely hapless from distance up to then. The bucket opened up new opportunities inside the outer rim, from which fellow DBB player Franz Wagner in particular benefited. In Orlando’s last attack before the break, the Berlin player then also made it 54:52 from outside to change the lead again.
Wagner substituted due to injury
Not much changed in the second half. Both teams exerted enormous defensive pressure, acted physically – and failed to hit their threes. The majority of the points now came from the free throw line. Paolo Banchero, who had an evening to forget from the field (18 points, 4/18 FG), was also successful here. Five consecutive Bane points gave Orlando a narrow lead going into the final period (75:69).
However, there was bad news midway through the period when Franz Wagner was substituted after a collision and then did not return to the game. He finished the game with 19 points (7/15).
Bane with the Dagger
At this point, the score should certainly have been higher. The visitors had conceded a whopping twelve more turnovers by the end of the third period. Cunningham alone, who was at the heart of Orlando’s defensive efforts, accounted for eight of them. In addition, co-star Duren again had to contend with the same problems as in games one to three: The 22-year-old often looked overwhelmed against the double teams in the zone. A poster from Jamal Cain was the last straw for the All-Star in the final quarter. He finished the game with a meager twelve points.
However, the Magicians’ own offensive execution remained a problem. Only around a third of all shots found their target, and just under a quarter from outside. And yet the decision came from outside. With a three-point lead 75 seconds before the end, top scorer Bane (22) created some space at the rim and slammed in a three-pointer with the board.
The Pistons’ Cunningham (25) and Tobias Harris (20) fought back with all their might, but simply lacked the offensive support in the end. Tristan da Silva contributed six points and four rebounds for the Magic.
The Orlando Magic thus increase their lead in the series to 3-1. The fifth clash in the series is just two days away. For the Detroit Pistons, the rule is: no losing The good thing from their point of view: home court changes again.