The Detroit Pistons were dominant in the regular season. They now turn their sights on the postseason.
They will tip off the first round of the NBA playoffs on Sunday, April 19, when they host the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic at 6:30 p.m. on NBC (and Peacock). It has been a two-year turnaround nothing short of miraculous for the Pistons, who went 60-22 just two years after a franchise-worst 14-68 record.
Led by All-Star duo Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, they boasted the league’s No. 2 defense and sailed to their best finish in nearly two decades. They split the season series with the Magic, who are fronted by 2022 No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero and Michigan alumnus Franz Wagner (No. 8 pick in 2021).
Here are two keys for the Pistons to beat the Magic and win their first home playoff game since 2008 (featuring an NBA record 10 straight home postseason losses).
Can Ausar Thompson neutralize Orlando’s offense?
The likely All-Defensive forward was a one-man show in the Pistons’ 106-92 road win over the Magic on March 1. Thompson tallied nine points, 11 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals; he led the way with big defensive plays in the third quarter as they held the Magic to 30.8% shooting in the second half.
It didn’t matter that the Pistons missed their first 15 3-pointers and finished the night 4-for-30 (13.3%) beyond the arc. Thompson hounded Orlando’s ball-handlers and sparked the Pistons’ transition offense. Both teams embrace similar styles of play – prioritizing shots at the rim and free throw line on offense and wearing down teams on the other end. But the Pistons executed that style better, as they have all season.
Thompson is crucial to replicating that in the playoffs. The league leader in steals per game, his disruption has swung positive outcomes for the Pistons this season more than any player outside of Cunningham and Duren.
“It’s going to come down to who does it more, who does it nastier and who does it longer,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the team’s practice Saturday. “You’re spot on with the similarities, but it’s going to come down to war of attrition – who’s mentally tough enough, who’s physically tough enough to do it for 48 minutes and see what that looks like possibly seven times in a row.”
Will Cade Cunningham be 100% for Game 1?
A collapsed left lung on March 17 caused the Pistons guard to miss 11 games. The Pistons stayed afloat down the stretch, winning eight during his absence. He returned with a week remaining but was on a restriction, playing 26, 28 and 22 minutes in their final three games. Roughly a full month after the initial injury, Cunningham revealed Friday he isn’t feeling quite 100% yet.
‘I’m getting close but I don’t think I’m back yet,” he said. “Obviously I still have some things that I’m still trying to get back to full speed and just get my rhythm and everything back. I’m getting close. I’m just knocking a little bit of the dust off.”
Duren, who made a strong case as the team’s long-term No. 2 scoring option after averaging 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds on 65% shooting, will once again be leaned upon as Cunningham finds his rhythm.
Pistons vs Magic score prediction for Game 1
It was an uneven regular season for the Magic, who entered preseason as a dark horse contender but finished with 45 victories while dealing with an injury to Wagner that caused him to miss more than half of the season. Wagner is back, but has been inconsistent since returning in April. The Pistons are deeper and have been remarkably consistent all season. With homecourt advantage, they should start the series on a strong note. The pick: Pistons 126, Magic 119.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X and/or Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons vs Magic score prediction in Game 1: X-factor, key questions
Reporting by Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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