Pistons turn defense to offense, take 14-7 lead over Magic early in first quarter
Orlando wins the opening tip-off as Franz Wagner draws an early foul on Jalen Duren, then Tobias Harris gets the Pistons on the board first with a putback off a Duncan Robinson airball. It’s their first lead of the series, then Cade Cunningham hits a 3-pointer, but gets called on a shooting foul on Wendell Carter Jr. Carter splits his free throws, then Paolo Banchero misses both of his free throws.
There’s a great sequence, as Cunningham drops his defender with a cross and passes it to Duren, who lobs it to Ausar Thompson for a slam. The Pistons are playing great defense early, getting fastbreaks as a Harris slam forces Orlando to call timeout with 6:42 left in this first quarter.
During the timeout, we see the 2026 National Champion Michigan Wolverines are in Little Caesars Arena with their head coach Dusty May and the championship they won earlier this month.
The Pistons will try to avoid an 0-2 series hole as they face the Magic in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference first-round matchup.
After playing from behind throughout the duration of their Game 1 loss to Orlando on Sunday, the Pistons look to show why they’re the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Cade Cunningham’s 39 points were enough to keep the Pistons alive during the opening game, but Detroit will need more from players such as Jalen Duren, who struggled to find his rhythm against Orlando’s defense.
The No. 8-seeded Magic were the only lower-seeded team to win Game 1 in this year’s playoffs, matching the Pistons’ physicality with their own. Stopping Orlando’s Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner will be one of the adjustments Detroit looks to address after film sessions prior to Game 2.
Starting Lineups
Both teams make no changes to their Game 1 starting lineups for Game 2.
Follow along here for live updates from Detroit News contributor Kameron Goodwill.
NBA Playoffs, first round: No. 8 Magic vs. No. 1 Pistons
Orlando leads series, 1-0
Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101
Game 2: at Detroit, Wednesday, 7 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 3: at Orlando, Saturday, 1 p.m. (Peacock)
Game 4: at Orlando, Monday, April 27, TBD (TBD)
x-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)
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Live updates: Pistons start hot, take early lead over Magic in Game 2
Reporting by Kameron Goodwill, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
