Magic look for third straight win fresh off of toppling the Timberwolves
It’s always interesting when two rebuilding teams face off because it gives you a chance to reflect on what things have gone right and wrong for each franchise. A lot has gone right for the Orlando Magic this season, and just about everything has gone wrong for the Detroit Pistons .
There are even some fun analogs Paolo Banchero is the No. 1 overall pick with loads of skill but some inefficiencies needing to be ironed out of his game. That sounds a lot like Cade Cunningham. But because of team context, Banchero just made his first All-Star team and Cunningham is fighting to avoid the worst record in NBA history. Jalen Suggs is the defense-first guard who was so inefficient on offense there were questions about if he had a real home in the NBA. That sounds a lot like Killian Hayes. Except, Suggs managed to become a semi-reliable shooter, going from a 21% 3-point shooter as a rookie to 38% this year, and now he’s talked about as a mainstay of the Magic’s future. Killian Hayes never figured out the whole jump shot and scoring thing, and lately he’s been a healthy scratch.
The biggest differences in these team’s respective rebuilds is that whereas the Pistons decided to surround their young core with offense-only players, the Magic have really leaned into its defensive identity. It’s worked for the Magic, and it hasn’t worked at all for the Pistons.
Game Vitals
When: 3 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Bally Sports Detroit
Odds: Pistons +6.5
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (6-42)
Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Bojan Bogdanovic, Kevin Knox, Jalen Duren
Orlando Magic (26-23)
Markelle Fultz, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter