After the Orlando Magic took Sport 1 in opposition to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday and remained tied halfway by means of Sport 2, even holding Detroit to simply 14 factors within the fourth quarter, a disastrous third interval in the end shifted the end result.
The Pistons erupted with a 30-3 run to begin the quarter and went on to outscore Orlando 38-16, denying the Magic an opportunity to take a 2-0 sequence lead because the matchup moved again to Orlando.
“You possibly can’t simply flush it and act like nothing occurred,” Magic ahead Paolo Banchero stated after Wednesday’s loss, through Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel.
“You’ve bought to return and watch it, see what went improper, each side of the rock and study from it, for positive. We all know what kind of sequence it’s going to be. It’s going to be an unsightly, gritty sequence, and also you simply can’t let your guard down and allow them to go on runs like that.”
Regardless of the tough stretch, Orlando took some confidence from splitting the primary two video games on the highway and headed residence aiming for a 2-1 benefit in Sport 3.
As famous by Beede, Franz Wagner emphasised the crew’s consolation degree on the Kia Middle, the place they posted a 25-15 common season file.
In the meantime, Desmond Bane pointed to key areas needing enchancment, together with three-point capturing (8-of-32 in Sport 2) and second-chance alternatives (0-for-11).
“We had good alternatives – a number of probabilities of put-backs, a number of probabilities of dagger threes – and a few nights you simply don’t make pictures,” Bane stated. “I anticipate us making extra pictures all through the sequence.”
The Magic are transferring ahead after their Sport 2 loss, however they can not simply faux that second half did not occur. Story: https://t.co/pYJf58iw07
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 25, 2026
