The Detroit Pistons took a 2-1 edge in the season series against the Orlando Magic
For the final leg of Isaiah Stewart’s seven-game suspension, the Detroit Pistons traveled to the Sunshine State looking for revenge after falling to the Orlando Magic during the NBA Cup back in November. The Pistons fell into a sizable hole during the first half, but a few key adjustments and some revitalized defense helped Cade Cunningham lead Detroit to a comfortable 14-point victory over the Magic, 106-92.
The Pistons’ road win pushed the team to 45-14, which already surpasses last year’s regular season win total with 23 games still to go. An impressive feat, to be sure, but the Pistons quietly posted a confidence-inspiring win that could otherwise be misinterpreted as a lackadaisical first half before Detroit turned it on when pressure mounted.
"They don't panic when it happens," Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game. "They just continue to do the next right thing."
Early on, the Pistons struggled mightily from three-point range, missing their first 15 attempts from beyond the arc before getting a perimeter shot to fall. The Magic, on the other hand, rode a quick Tristan da Silva 12-point, 5-for-5 performance into the lead, which hovered in the single-digit range for much of the first half.
At times, the Pistons could be unfairly accused of sleepwalking through the early proceedings against the Magic, but Detroit couldn’t buy a shot from any distance to start the game. After halftime, the Pistons came out with more energy on defense and started converting turnovers into buckets on the other end, and the game opened up in their favor from that point onward.
"We defend at a level that many people aren't willing to do," Bickerstaff said. "To hold them to 18-point, 17 points in the third and fourth quarter, that gives you opportunity to win different. It puts a ton of pressure on your defense honestly, but you've seen it time and time again, our guys have the ability to respond to it."
Cunningham finished the game with 29 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds in the game, but the All-Star floor general’s production was fueled by a major effort on the glass from Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson. In the 14-point win, JD logged another double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Thompson contributed 11 rebounds and nine points in just 20 minutes of action for a remarkably efficient performance.
Overall, the Pistons won the rebounding battle by a 56-41 margin, so Detroit was able to follow their nightly script of aggressively attacking the boards in order to generate extra possessions. Similarly, the Pistons forced the Magic into committing 19 turnovers in the game for a five-turnover edge in that department as well, so Detroit succeeded in winning the margins, which has been a priority for J.B. Bickerstaff’s squad all year long.
Outside of that youthful trio of Cunningham, Duren and Thompson, it was the wily, ever-reliable vet in Tobias Harris who delivered with a pivotal 23-point, seven-rebound night against Orlando. Harris dialed back the clock for a night against his former squad, and his offensive effort was key in bridging the gap between buckets for Detroit in the early stages of Sunday night’s win.
"He's always there when we need him, and that's the greatest compliment you can give a guy is no matter the situation, no matter time, score, the play that needs to be made, Tobias has over and over again made that play," Bickerstaff said. "For a guy who understands his game, understands how to get to his spot, like he's a run-stopper or an extender. We know we can get him the ball in certain points, and pretty much it's going to be two points or a foul. I've called him my safety blanket for a year and a half now, and that's what he is for me and for this team."
Next up, the Pistons will look to extend their three-game winning streak with another matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday, March 3 at 7 pm.
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