The Orlando Magic head back home with their first-round playoff series against the Detroit Pistons tied at one game a piece after falling on Wednesday night, 98-83.

It was a game that remained close into the first half but quickly got away from the Magic in the third quarter. After the game, Jalen Suggs talked about what went wrong.

“I think being faster,” Suggs told the media. “I think we were really good at that in game one. And we were solid at it throughout tonight until that third quarter. We just stayed in that lull a little too long and let them grow the lead. Whether it be getting better shots on offense or getting stops. During those stretches, we got two to do one at a high level.

“We didn't do either, and they took advantage of it,” he added. “We'll go back and learn from it. We saw the adjustments that they made. The ones that slowed us down and the ones that we liked. Like I said, we'll watch it. We'll grow from it.”

In the third, the Pistons were able to overcome their offensive slump from the first half and shoot 60.9% from the field and 50% from 3-point range. Meanwhile, the Magic continued to struggle and shot just 5-17 from the field and 2-8 from the perimeter. By the end of the quarter, Detroit had outscored them, 38-16.

“It's hard to win a game like that against the best defense, the best offense, it doesn't matter who you're playing, especially in the offs,” Suggs said after leading the Magic with 19 points. “It's hard to win a game shooting like that. We'll shoot better, we'll be better. I think just being a bit more crisp. 

“A couple good looks that we didn't shoot with the most confidence or that we passed up,” he added. “Then just not settling for bad ones. Continuing to be intentional about playing fast and find a great look every possession. That's why I think the first half was very important too. I think we had some chances there to really push our lead.”

Suggs also credited the home court advantage the Pistons had behind them to help fuel their large runs.

“Home court advantage was great. Like I said, when you're going on those runs, it gets loud and it's easy to snowball,” Suggs said. Way easier to do at home than on the road. Props to them. They did it, they went on their run, they got the stops, they were executing offensively.

Like I said, I just think we've got to be better and more intentional as we were in game one. 

“On recognizing when we are in that run where it is starting to get loud. Come back and get a great look on our side.Then really lock in defensively. See if we can find a stop or two. Maybe a kill, just to really kill the momentum. Quiet the crowd down a little bit. Get back to going back and forth.”

With the series now tied, the Magic will be able to enjoy their own home court advantage as they return to the Kia Center for Games 3 and 4, and it is an environmental element Suggs knows he and his teammates must take advantage of.

“Came here, we got one,” Suggs said. “Going back home, knowing what the crowd is going to be like. Knowing we have the energy on our side. From that standpoint, really coming out and taking advantage of that. Throwing the first punch and being ready to hoop on Saturday.”

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