04/19/26 08:22:00
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04/19 20:20 CDT Paolo Banchero scores 23 and Magic beat Pistons 112-101 to
extend NBA's longest home postseason skid
Paolo Banchero scores 23 and Magic beat Pistons 112-101 to extend NBA's longest
home postseason skid
By LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer
DETROIT (AP) --- Paolo Banchero had 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists
to lead the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic to a 112-101 win over the top-seeded
Detroit Pistons on Sunday night in Game 1 of their first-round series,
extending the longest home playoff losing streak in NBA history.
Detroit has dropped 11 straight home games in the postseason, a drought that
dates to 2008.
The Pistons will get another chance against Orlando on Wednesday night in Game
2.
Detroit's Cade Cunningham scored a playoff career-high 39 points and Tobias
Harris added 17 for the Pistons, but the rest of their teammates were quiet
offensively.
Franz Wagner scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to help seal the
victory for the Magic, who never trailed. Orlando's Desmond Bane and Wendell
Carter scored 17 points each and Jalen Suggs had 16.
The Pistons haven't advanced beyond the first round in the postseason in 18
years and the Magic haven't since 2010.
Orlando looked ready and Detroit looked rusty early.
The Magic, coming off a rout of Charlotte in a play-in game on Friday, led 18-5
midway through the first quarter after holding the Pistons to 1-of-6 shooting
with four turnovers in their first game in a week.
Detroit rallied to pull within two before Orlando closed with six straight
points to lead 35-27 after Banchero and Suggs combined to score 20 points.
The Magic led 55-51 at halftime.
The Pistons came out flat in the second half and Orlando took advantage,
scoring eight of the first nine points and prompting Detroit coach J.B.
Bickerstaff to call a timeout.
Detroit scored 10 straight points and 13 of 15 to pull into a 65-all tie on
Cunningham's 3-pointer.
Banchero answered with a long jumper over Jalen Duren and Bane followed with a
3-pointer over Cunningham, leading to the Magic restoring a double-digit lead.
Orlando led 81-74 going into the fourth quarter.
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