Magic Surprise Pistons in Playoff Opener
The Orlando Magic surprised in the start of the postseason, defeating the Detroit Pistons with a score of 112-101 at the Little Caesars Arena.
Orlando, seeded as the eighth seed after the play-in, demonstrated its ability to overcome the leader of the Eastern Conference and steal home-court advantage from the first encounter.
Paolo Banchero led the Magic’s offense with 23 points, while Franz Wagner contributed 19 units, with 11 of them crucial in the final quarter to secure the victory.
From Detroit’s side, Cade Cunningham stood out with 39 points, leading his team’s reaction. The Pistons managed to tie the score in the third quarter after a three-pointer from their star, after having been down by a considerable margin from the start.
However, Orlando responded with a renewed offensive push, maintaining control in the final minutes and sealing a victory that demonstrates their competitiveness at this stage of the season.
In other results of the day, the Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Philadelphia 76ers and the Phoenix Suns, respectively.
The day also marked the start of the series in the Western Conference between the San Antonio Spurs, led by Victor Wembanyama, and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Orlando, after demonstrating their potential in the play-in, begins the series by sending a clear message about their ability to compete.
