Pistons Dominate Magic in Game 2 to Even Playoff Series

Cade Cunningham led the charge with 27 points and 11 assists, while Tobias Harris contributed 16 points and 11 rebounds as the Detroit Pistons bounced back from a Game 1 loss to even their Eastern Conference playoff series with a dominant 98-83 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena.

Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson each scored 11 points, helping the Pistons break an 11-game home playoff losing streak—the longest in NBA history. Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Stewart also chipped in with 10 points each for Detroit, which hadn't won a home playoff game since 2008.

On the Magic side, Jalen Suggs led the way with 19 points, while Paolo Banchero added 18. Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane finished with 12 points each, but Orlando struggled mightily with their shooting, making only 26 of 80 attempts from the field, including just eight of 32 from beyond the arc.

The best-of-seven series now heads to Orlando for Game 3 on Saturday.

Pistons Take Control in Third Quarter

After a tight first half, Detroit exploded in the third quarter, outscoring Orlando 38-16. The Pistons opened the period with a 30-3 run, making it clear they were in control of the game. Orlando was held to just five field goals in the quarter and committed six turnovers, falling behind by as much as 27 points.

Though the Magic tried to rally in the final quarter, they never came closer than 97-83 with less than a minute left. Detroit kept a comfortable lead throughout, ensuring the victory.

Defensive First Half Sets the Tone

The game began as a defensive battle, with the Pistons holding a narrow 25-21 lead after the first quarter. Detroit forced Orlando to shoot just 26.9 percent from the field, though the Magic forced eight Pistons turnovers and briefly took a 21-20 lead.

The second quarter saw both teams continue to lock down defensively, with four ties and two lead changes. Detroit briefly gained an eight-point lead, but Orlando fought back to tie the game at 46 as the teams went into halftime.

With the win, the Pistons are looking to build momentum as they head to Florida for the next game in the series.

-Field Level Media/Reuters