The Detroit Pistons stumbled 112-101 to the Orlando Magic in the teams’ first-round series opener. The loss sparked panic over Detroit’s looming elimination and inability to win a home playoff game again. Starting 0-1 in a best-of-seven series and losing home-court advantage are to be avoided, whenever possible.
To J.B. Bickerstaff and his players, the Game 1 loss was nothing more than a feel-out game. “They out-physical-ed us,” Detroit wing Ausar Thompson said. “We’re used to the playoff whistle now. We’ll come back, and we’ll do what we’ve got to do.”
Orlando Look to Replicate Game 1 Performance
Orlando hopes their performance Sunday has more legs than that. The Magic set the home team’s nervousness in motion and believe they can replicate it on Wednesday. Initiating contact, packing the paint, and playing to their talents all seem well within their control.
Cunningham’s Lone Offensive Battle
Bad things happen when a 1-2 punch combination becomes a lonely 1. Guard Cade Cunningham had to carry Detroit’s offense more than usual. He scored 39 points. Center Jalen Duren’s inside threat was mostly absent.
Duren Aims for a Stronger Game 2
A finalist for the Kia Most Improved Player Award this season, the Pistons’ rugged big man was their second-leading scorer. In four games against Orlando, he averaged 17.8 points, 11 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. But he was minus-21 in Game 1, contributing only eight points and seven rebounds.
The crowd around Duren inside had him trying to execute his offense in a closet.
“Anytime I had catches deep, they collapsed on me,” Duren told reporters Tuesday. “They were coming from everywhere. I did not get as many shot attempts [four] as I should have.”
“For me, just being more aggressive, finding my spots and attacking more – I think I could have done a better job of that,” he said. “I just spent time watching the film over and over and over again, seeing where I wasn’t most effective.”
Detroit is hoping to match Orlando’s physical intensity and play better in the paint as Game 2 approaches.