Detroit Pistons fall apart in second quarter to lose again, 128-102, at Orlando Magic
The Detroit Pistons went scoreless for the first four minutes of the second quarter. Their first field goal finally fell at the 8:25 mark, when Killian Hayes knocked down a turnaround midrange jumper in the lane.
Their next field goal came five minutes later at the 3:09 mark, courtesy of a James Wiseman jumper.
Detroit’s ice-cold, mistake-laden second period was costly, and ultimately lost them the game. The Orlando Magic opened the period with a 21-4 run and carried that momentum through the rest of the night, running away with an 128-102 victory.
It was the Pistons’ (16-62) ninth-straight loss, and 20th in their last 21 games. The NBA’s worst team has four games remaining to avoid tying the 1979-80 Pistons’ franchise-worst final record of 16-66.
More: It's one of the Detroit Pistons' worst seasons ever. What happened?
Hayes led the Pistons with 20 points and seven assists, and Eugene Omoruyi added 19 points (6-for-17 overall shooting). James Wiseman added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Eight players reached double figures for Orlando, led by Jalen Suggs' 18 points and four steals. The Magic shot 57.3% overall and 51.5% from 3.
Orlando started the game hot, opening the game with a 20-8 run after making eight of their first 10 shots. But a quick response from Detroit allowed the road team to enter the second quarter with just a five-point deficit, 34-29. The Pistons outscored Orlando 21-14 after the 6:32 mark, as the Magic cooled off following an unsustainable start.
But the Magic did maintain its strong outside shooting, knocking down 17of their 33-point attempts. They hit their first three attempts of the second half after making nine of 16 in the first half, including two in response to a pair of 3’s from Omoruyi — stifling any chance of a comeback Pistons run.
It was one of Detroit’s worst efforts this season, on both ends of the floor. Offensively, the Pistons shot just 41% overall and 27.3% (9-for-33) from 3 while turning the ball over 16 times, with half of them taking place in the second quarter.
Defensively, they offered little resistance as the Magic shot above 50% both in and outside of the arc. Their least-efficient spot on the floor was at the free throw line, where they made just 25-of-40 attempts. The Pistons can’t take credit for their 15 misses.
Poor shooting, turnovers doom Pistons
A promising end to the first quarter was followed by one of Detroit's worst 12-minute stretches of the season. The Pistons had nearly three times as many turnovers (8) as made shots (3) in the second period, allowing the Magic to build a 22-point lead with 4:35 remaining before halftime.
Detroit turned the ball over three times within the first three minutes alone, and they were all avoidable. Omoruyi lost his handle under the rim, Jared Rhoden threw a bad pass that nearly led to a fastbreak layup for Suggs, and Michigan alumnus Moritz Wagner drew a charge on R.J. Hampton.
Midway through the quarter, a bad pass from Hayes — turnover number five — gave Suggs a free lane to the rim in transition. Ivey chased Suggs down and fouled him, but with excessive contact. Following a review, the officials ruled it a Flagrant 1 foul. The Magic already had a 50-35 lead, and Ivey’s unnecessary foul allowed them to extend it to 17 and get the ball back.
Orlando scored 15 points off of Detroit’s eight second-quarter turnovers. Beyond the Pistons’ mental mistakes, Suggs also made life difficult for Detroit’s guards and tallied three steals in the period.
Bagley exits game in first quarter
It’s been an up-and-down season for Marvin Bagley III, who has had stretches of strong play interspersed with poor injury luck. Freak accidents led to him missing 20 games in January and February with metacarpal fractures in his right hand, and a sprained right MCL and bone bruise Detroit’s first 13 games of the season.
Bad luck struck Bagley again in the first quarter, when the back of his head hit Jalen Duren’s knee after getting fouled on a layup attempt with 4:36 to play in the quarter. He stayed in the game and knocked down both free throws, but was later ruled “doubtful” with neck soreness. Bagley checked out at the 3:22 mark and didn’t return.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons fell apart in 2nd to lose, 128-102, at Orlando Magic
