ORLANDO, FLA- Due to a well-rounded performance highlighted by eleven double-digit scorers, the Orlando Magic (34-44, 11th in East) effortlessly defeated the Detroit Pistons (16-62, 15th in East) on Sunday, April 2nd, at the Amway Center. Following their 26-point beating of Detroit, Orlando has now won six of their last eight games, and has overtaken Washington for the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference. With just four games left in the regular season, the Magic are four games behind the No. 10 seed Chicago Bulls (38-40), who hold the final spot in the Play-In tournament.
Throughout the 2022-2023 season, Orlando’s offense has been below-average, averaging just 112.0 PPG (26th in NBA) on 47.2% shooting from the field (19th in NBA) and 34.8% from three-point range (24th in NBA), along with 14.2 TOPG (23rd in NBA). On Sunday, the Magic posted their best offensive performance of the season, scoring 128 points on 57.3% shooting from the field and 51.5% from downtown with 14 turnovers. The excellent offensive showing can be attributed to the vast amount of scoring options, as eight players scored in double-figures for the Magic.
For reference, 2022 All-Rookie First Team Selection Franz Wagner was fantastic versus Detroit, recording 16 points, five rebounds, a game-high eight assists, and three steals on 5-11 (45.5%) shooting in 31 minutes. Meanwhile, 2022 No. 1 pick Paolo Banchero continued his solid play amid his record-setting rookie season. In 29 minutes, Banchero posted 14 points, nine rebounds, and three assists on 4-9 (44.4%) shooting from the field and 2-4 (50.0%) from three-point range. In his 52nd start of the season, Carter Jr. had 14 points, nine rebounds, and three steals on 4-8 (50.0%) shooting in 23 minutes.
As it would turn out, neither Wagner nor Banchero actually led the Magic in scoring, as Jalen Suggs scored a team-high 18 points on just 5-9 (55.6%) shooting from the field and 4-6 (66.7%) from three-point range, along with two rebounds, two assists, and four steals in 26 minutes. Alongside Suggs, star sixth man Cole Anthony notched 17 points, six rebounds, and three assists on 6-11 (%) shooting, while mid-season acquisition Goga Bitdaze added 13 points, three rebounds, and three assists, and Moritz Wagner pitched in 11 points on a perfect 4-4 (100.0%) mark from the field. Based on the play of Suggs, Anthony, Bitdaze, and Wagner, Orlando’s bench outscored Detroit’s bench 65-44, their best margin this season.
Amid an extremely poor season with star point guard Cade Cunningham sidelined for the majority of the 2023 season, Detroit had little to play for on Sunday, as shown by a one-sided affair with Orlando. In spite of this, the Pistons received notable performances some of their players, including 2020 No. 7 pick Killian Hayes. In 34 minutes, Hayes recorded a game-high 20 points, two rebounds, and seven assists on 6-12 (50.0%) shooting.
Similar to Hayes, 2022 No. 5 pick Jaen Ivey was also good in their loss, notching 14 points, three rebounds, and six assists in 31 minutes, albeit on 4-14 (28.5%) shooting from the field and 2-7 (28.5%) from downtown. Meanwhile, Eugene Omoruyi posted 19 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals on 6-17 (35.3%) shooting from the field, while James Wiseman pitched in 12 points and ten boards in 23 minutes of action. It’s worth noting that former Magic guard RJ Hampton played in his first game against Orlando, dropping four points on 2-4 (50.0%) shooting in the process.
Succeeding their commanding victory over Detroit, Orlando will attempt to notch their seventh win in their last nine games on Tuesday, April 4th, as the Magic will welcome the surging Cleveland Cavaliers (49-30, 4th in East) to the Amway Center at 7:00 PM Eastern Time. On the other hand, Detroit will return to the Little Caesars Arena in preparation to play the Miami Heat (41-37, 7th in East) on April 4th at 7:00 PM Eastern Time.