Skip to main content

Banchero and the Magic look to clinch series against Detroit

Orlando Magic (45-37, eighth in the Eastern Conference) vs. Detroit Pistons (60-22, first in the Eastern Conference)

Detroit; Wednesday, 7 p.m. EDT

LINE: Pistons -9.5; over/under is 210.5

EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Magic lead series 3-1

BOTTOM LINE: The Orlando Magic look to clinch the series over the Detroit Pistons in game five of the Eastern Conference first round. The Magic defeated the Pistons 94-88 in the last meeting on Tuesday. Desmond Bane led the Magic with 22 points, and Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 25.

The Pistons are 39-13 against Eastern Conference opponents. Detroit is seventh in the league with 45.6 rebounds led by Jalen Duren averaging 10.5.

The Magic are 26-26 against conference opponents. Orlando is sixth in the Eastern Conference giving up only 115.1 points while holding opponents to 47.6% shooting.

The Pistons average 11.0 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.1 fewer makes per game than the Magic allow (12.1). The Magic average 6.1 more points per game (115.7) than the Pistons give up to opponents (109.6).

TOP PERFORMERS: Cunningham is averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 9.9 assists for the Pistons. Duncan Robinson is averaging 2.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

Bane is scoring 20.1 points per game and averaging 4.1 rebounds for the Magic. Jalen Suggs is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pistons: 6-4, averaging 111.6 points, 45.8 rebounds, 27.9 assists, 9.2 steals and 8.9 blocks per game while shooting 47.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 105.8 points per game.

Magic: 8-2, averaging 114.2 points, 46.7 rebounds, 25.8 assists, 9.8 steals and 5.7 blocks per game while shooting 45.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 107.0 points.

INJURIES: Pistons: None listed.

Magic: Jonathan Isaac: out (knee).

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

The arrival of AJ Dybantsa gives Wizards hope

For the first time in almost a half-century, the Washington Wizards could be closer to contending for an NBA title with the arrival of AJ Dybantsa. The team drafted the 6-foot-9 forward with the first pick of the 2026 NBA draft after finishing as one of the worst teams in the league in the past three years. They got the No. 1 overall pick after winning the draft lottery in May for the first time since 2010 -- when they drafted John Wall. The Wizards hope, with the arrival of Dybantsa, that they can start winning games and competing for the playoffs with a chance to win their first championship since 1978. In the past three seasons, they finished with a combined record of 50-196. “We’re definitely getting a difference maker on the basketball court. There’s no doubt about that,” Wizards general manager Will Dawkins said. “What I would want our fans to know night one is that he is a worker. He is a passionate person who loves basketball and will continue to work and get better.”
Read Next Story