DETROIT — The Orlando Magic opened the Eastern Conference playoffs with an early statement, beating the No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons 112-101 on Sunday night to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
Guard Jalen Suggs triggered a 15-2 burst less than four minutes in, stripping Cade Cunningham and finishing with a two-handed dunk that put Orlando in front 18-5. Suggs scored 11 of his 18 points in the opening quarter and set a frantic defensive tone the Pistons never fully solved.
Paolo Banchero supplied 23 points, hitting 7-of-13 from the field and attacking the lane repeatedly for 17 first-half points. Franz Wagner added 19, including 11 in the fourth quarter to blunt Detroit’s final push.
Detroit’s response falls short
Cade Cunningham, playing his first postseason game since suffering a collapsed lung on March 17, poured in 39 points on 13-of-27 shooting and briefly tied the score at 65-all with a third-quarter three-pointer. The Pistons, idle for a week after clinching the conference’s top record, never led.
All-Star center Jalen Duren was limited to eight points and seven rebounds as Orlando clogged the paint. Forward Ausar Thompson acknowledged the slow start, saying, “They hit us first. We have to do a better job of coming out ready.”
Magic carry momentum from play-in
Sunday’s victory came two days after Orlando routed the Charlotte Hornets 121-90 in the play-in round. Head coach Jamahl Mosley credited renewed defensive energy discovered in that win, noting Banchero’s “presence and aggression downhill” against the Pistons.
The series resumes Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Source: ESPN
