ORLANDO – They didn’t give up. Give them that. But give them only that.
The 17-point, fourth-quarter comeback, the 28-6 run, the great wave of force and defense that made this a game?
It should have been there all along. It wasn’t, and now the Detroit Pistons are in serious trouble after losing Game 3 to the Orlando Magic, 113-105.
Don’t be fooled by the score. The Pistons made it respectable only after playing sloppy, unfocused ball for nearly 3½ quarters. If not for Ausar Thompson, there would’ve been no comeback. He was everywhere, all at once, and by far their best player Saturday.
Yeah, they made it close. Yeah, Cade Cunningham found himself after a forgettable performance for most of the game and led them back. And then he missed a late free throw that would’ve given the Pistons a two-point lead.
That stopped the momentum. Franz Wagner then hit a pull-up midrange jumper and a late-shot clock 3-pointer to give the Magic a four-point lead. And that was the game, once more.
Maybe the late push and rediscovered defensive intensity and focus will carry that into Game 4.
Then again, maybe not.
They didn’t carry their energy from Game 3 down here, did they?
Let’s face it, for most of the game; the Pistons got outsmarted and outwitted — and got out-toughed once again. That’s twice in three games they haven’t met the playoff moment, now they’re in real trouble.
They can blame themselves, and surely will. Especially Cunningham, who played his worst game of the series and perhaps the worst game of his short playoff career.
The Pistons’ star operates at his own speed, and that pace opens all sorts of possibilities for him. But there is a fine line between tactical pace and being too casual, and Cunningham was too casual for too many stretches.
Nine turnovers?
The Pistons can’t win that way. Haven’t won that way. Won’t win that way.
It’s one thing to miss shots – all players do. It’s another to toss the ball all over the arena, almost from the tip.
Game 4 is obviously a must-win. Mostly because this is no ordinary 1/8 matchup. The Pistons have the better team, and had (we thought) the more connected team. But the Magic can match their talent.
On some nights, they can exceed it, when Cunningham plays as he did the first three quarters, when Jalen Duren plays his way to the bench.
For the third straight game, the Pistons center struggled in the paint, struggled to finish, struggled even to hold onto the ball. And when he failed to guard Paolo Banchero on the break in the third quarter and gave up an uncontested dunk?
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff benched him.
Paul Reed checked in and quickly made a reverse layup. A few possesions later, he dipped into the lane after a between-the-legs dribble and softly tossed into a short lefty jump hook shot.
Go ahead, shake your head. Marvel at the unlikely magic. And shake your head for the reason Reed had to play, and it wasn’t just because of Duren.
Three games into the Pistons first-round series against the Magic and this much is clear: Orlando is baiting Detroit, and Wendell Carter Jr. is getting the best of Detroit’s big men.
Isaiah Stewart, who lost his composure a couple times in the first half, went missing for much of the game and cost the Pistons in several ways.
Stewart picked up a double technical jawing and entangling himself, then had a Flagrant-1 foul against Jalen Suggs, swiping for the ball – though it looked like Suggs embellished.
His reputation cost him, then again with 0.1 seconds left in the first half, after the Pistons had closed with a mini flourish.
He threw Carter to the ground drawing a foul on a meaningless play. Carter made two free throws. More momentum stopped.
They did themselves in for most of the game that way. Another unfocused performance and they’ll be down 3-1, with only themselves to blame once more.
Contact Shawn Windsor: swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him @shawnwindsor.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons have no one to blame but themselves for lack of focus
Reporting by Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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