Magic create distance with quick flurry, take six-point lead over Pistons as Bane’s up to four 3-pointers
Second quarter begins as the Magic get to the line yet again, this time it’s Jamal Cain hitting both free throws, but Daniss Jenkins hits a driving layup the next time down in response. Jenkins then hits a 3-pointer, and on the next possession Harris hits the layup plus the foul sinking the free throw. Harris gets a fastbreak dunk but Bane hits two threes in-between, as he’s up to four 3-pointers already in this game.
Duren shows off the defense by swatting Banchero’s shot out of bounds, but Orlando’s not going away. Carter draws the foul on Duren and hits the layup, completing the three-point play, then Jalen Suggs hits his first three to the roar of the Kia Center crowd as the Pistons call for time with 6:49 left in the first half.
Pistons, Magic continue to keep within distance of each other, game’s tied 26-26 as first quarter ends
The Pistons continue their strong defense, but Thompson’s bad pass turns into a steal by Anthony Black and a foul, as Black hits both free throws. Black gets another steal and draws a foul on Cunningham as Detroit’s up to five turnovers already. Black splits the free throws, but Cunningham answers back with an and-one layup and hits the free throw.
Tempers start to flare as Isaiah Stewart and Goga Bitadze gets called for technical fouls. It’s now back-and-forth here in Orlando as Caris LeVert hits a wild layup, then Black continues his hot first quarter with a 3-pointer. Javonte Green answers with a three, then Bitadze dunks it off the lob and it’s right on Stewart. That’s the last bucket of the first quarter, and we’re tied in Orlando.
Detroit goes “Lob City” in Orlando, transition points help Pistons tie game up, 18-18, against Magic in first quarter
Orlando’s run now jumps to 10-2 after Bane makes his second three of the quarter, but the Pistons answer back quickly as Tobias Harris lobs it up to Jalen Duren for the dunk, then Ausar Thompson gets an inbounds steal for the easy layup. Robinson fouls Paolo Banchero on a 3-pointer, but he goes 2-for-3 from the line and the miss leads to another lob to Duren, this time from Thompson.
More lobs as Cunningham throws it up to Thompson for the dunk, then Thompson shows off the middy with a pull-up jumper and now the game’s tied as the Magic call their first timeout.
Magic start hot, take 13-8 lead over Pistons early in Game 3
Orlando wins the tipoff and Desmond Bane puts the Magic on the board with an up-and-under layup, then the Pistons turn it over on their first possession. The Pistons answer back on their next time down the court as Duncan Robinson hits a three in the corner, then Cade Cunningham hits a three as the Pistons take an early 6-4 lead.
But the Magic answer back with a 9-2 run, ending with a Wendell Carter Jr. floater as the Pistons call their first timeout of the game with 8:01 remaining in the first quarter.
Starting Lineups
Yet again, there’s no changes to the starting lineups for either teams.
Preview
The No. 1-seeded Detroit Pistons and No. 8-seeded Orlando Magic continue their physical opening-round series, traveling to the Kia Center in Orlando for a pivotal Game 3 in this NBA Eastern Conference first round.
Detroit answered a disappointing Game 1 performance, using an avalanche of a third quarter to defeat Orlando in their first playoff home win in almost 18 years, and more importantly evening up the series at 1-1. But now the Magic have home-court advantage for the next two games in Orlando, where they went 25-15 in the regular season.
Cade Cunningham currently leads all playoff scorers by averaging 33 points per game in this series, with Tobias Harris being the Pistons’ second-leading scorer with 16.5 ppg. While Detroit only has two players averaging double-figure scoring, Orlando has all five starters doing so, with Paolo Banchero’s 20.5 ppg leading the team.
Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Kameron Goodwill.
NBA Playoffs, first round: No. 8 Magic vs. No. 1 Pistons
Series tied, 1-1Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101Game 2: Pistons 98, Magic 83Game 3: at Orlando, Saturday, 1 p.m. (Peacock)Game 4: at Orlando, Monday, April 27, 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock))Game 5: at Detroit, Wednesday, April 29, TBD (TBD)x-Game 6: at Orlando, Friday, May 1, TBD (TBD)x-Game 7: at Detroit, Sunday, May 3 TBD (TBD)x-If necessary
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Pistons trailing in second quarter of Game 3: live updates
Reporting by Kameron Goodwill, Special to The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
