The Orlando Magiceighth seeds, They triumphed this Monday 94-88 at home against the Detroit Pistonswho dominated the Eastern Conference, to take 3-1 advantage in the first round series of the ‘playoffs’ of the NBA and leave their rivals on the brink of the abyss.
The Pistons They had a balance of 60-22 in the regular season and added fifteen more victories compared to the magicbut that difference was completely canceled in these ‘playoffs’. Orlando struck first and planted its flag in detroit to take home advantage in the series, and despite losing the second game away from home, they became strong at home, where they sealed two victories that leave them one step away from qualifying for the round.
The Magic came out winners despite shooting with 32.6% accuracy (30 out of 92). Desmond Bane who had the support of his former teammates in Memphis Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson, He led Orlando with 22 points and five three-pointers.
Franz Wagner contributed 19 points, five rebounds, three assists and four steals in 24 minutes, but he retired with discomfort in his right calf, while Paolo Banchero added 18 points. This Monday at the KIA Center was a game of enormous intensity, with low scoring by both teams, physical play and many errors, in which the Magic were more lucid in the decisive moments.
The Pistons bled with turnovers, up to twenty, and his only made field goal in the last five minutes came with 3.4 seconds on the clock.
It was in that stretch when Orlando sealed its victory, despite its offensive difficulties. A triple by Desmond Bane, with the help of the board, raised the score to 92-86 with 1.16 left to play and decided the match in favor of the locals.. The first match point for the Magic will come this Wednesday in Detroit