Magic outlast visiting Pistons to snap losing streak

Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel on Jan 25, 2025

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ORLANDO, Fla. — Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs played in their first game together since Oct. 30 and the Magic snapped a five-game losing streak with a Saturday night win over the Pistons at Kia Center.

Banchero (32 points) and Wagner (32) combined for 64 points when Orlando captured a hard-fought victory over a Detroit squad that had won nine of their last 12 since the start of the New Year.

A key 20-4 run to start the fourth quarter helped put the Magic in control late in front of second-largest crowd in franchise history (19,489).

The victory clinches the regular season series for the Magic, who split the first two games with the Pistons. That tiebreaker could be significant come April after No. 7 Orlando entered one game behind No. 6 Detroit.

Seeds 7-10 in each conference compete in the Play-In for the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in the playoffs.

Detroit was without head coach JB Bickerstaff for the final 6:01 after he picked up back-to-back technical fouls in the fourth quarter due to extended conversation to the officials. Former Lakers and Kings coach, and current Detroit assistant, Luke Walton guided the Pistons the rest of the night.

Cade Cunningham led Detroit (23-22) with 35 points and 11 assists in 38 minutes.

The Magic (24-23) head to Miami on Monday when they open a six-game road trip, the last five of which come on the West Coast.

Starting 5

For just the sixth time this season, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley had his opening night starting lineup — Suggs, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Wagner, Banchero and Wendell Carter Jr. — available again Saturday.

Mosley, though, pointed out before the game that, despite the same lineup, it wouldn’t go the same as opening night due to the fact that Carter, Banchero, Wagner and Suggs had all missed significant time because of injuries, and the latter three were playing under a minutes restriction as they work their way conditioning back to form.

And that difference was clear from the jump.

Orlando struggled to find its footing on offense and fell down 30-18 after one frame. As the game went on, the Magic settled down, turned defense into offense and used a 36-23 second quarter to lead by one at the break.

Suggs, who returned following a 10-game absence due to a low back strain, played with his usual intensity on the defensive end but found himself in early foul trouble. He picked up four fouls by the 8:19 mark of the second quarter after he missed his first five shots from the floor.

His fifth foul came less than three minutes into the third quarter. That led to a limited 16 minutes when he totaled eight points and three assists.

After a season-low eight points Thursday vs. Portland, Banchero had 17 by halftime Saturday. Regularly facing Detroit double teams, Banchero attacked well to get to the free throw line, but started 3 of 9 at the charity stripe.

But key shot-making down the stretch lifted him in the second half despite seven missed free throws.

In just his second game back after missing 20 due to a torn right abdominal muscle injury, Wagner had a tough go shooting the ball to start (1 of 7 field goals in the first half) but unlike Banchero, had success at the free throw line (8 of 8).

Wagner’s pair of triples early in the fourth quarter boosted him to 25 points in the final frame when he played 30 total minutes.

Second unit

Cole Anthony was available after missing the last two games due to an illness. He was one of just four reserves used by Mosley throughout most of the game alongside Anthony Black, rookie Tristan da Silva and Jonathan Isaac.

Anthony turned the ball over four times and picked up three fouls before the fourth quarter.

It was Isaac who led the bench with 14 points when he converted with success at the charity stripe (6 of 6) and grabbed five rebounds. He added two second-half blocks.

After a scoreless first half, Black hit a third quarter triple to get going and later dunked to total five points.

Rookie watch

Da Silva came off the bench for the second straight game after he started 34 times while helping fill in for Banchero and Wagner.

The No. 18 pick hit his first 3 in the first quarter and in the second frame cut to the basket.