Tristan da Silva played a key role for the Orlando Magic in their playoff matchup against the Detroit Pistons, contributing significantly in Game 1. His 3-pointer helped secure a lead that the Pistons could not overcome.
Key points
Tristan da Silva contributed significantly in Game 1 of the playoffs.
He made a key 3-pointer that helped the Magic secure their lead.
Last year, he had minimal playing time in the playoffs.
The Pistons could not recover after da Silva's shot.
Da Silva remains humble about his performance.
Tristan da SilvaOrlando MagicDetroit PistonsCade Cunningham
DETROIT — A year ago at this time, Tristan da Silva hardly saw the floor during Orlando‘s first-round playoff series against the Celtics.
This postseason, however, the second-year forward is not only part of the Magic’s rotation against the top-seeded Pistons but also contributed in a major way during Game 1 over the weekend.
After Pistons star Cade Cunningham made a pair of free throws to cut Detroit‘s deficit to four points with 6:48 left in the contest, da Silva sunk a 3-pointer from the right corner to put Orlando ahead by seven points roughly halfway through the final frame.
The Pistons never got within four points of the Magic against after da Silva’s shot late in Game 1. He remained humble about the moment.
“Honestly, I wasn’t really aware of the time and score that much to feel like that was a big shot or whatever,” da Silva told the Orlando Sentinel after shootaround Wednesday ahead of Game 2 at Little Caesars Arena. “If I get an open shot, I take it.”
The fourth-quarter play was made possible by , who moments earlier set a screen for on the left side of the wing. As Carter caught the ball around the free-throw line and made it appear as though he was heading toward the basket, Detroit’s (da Silva’s defender at the time) shifted toward the paint to help defend.
Q&A
How did Tristan da Silva perform in Game 1 against the Pistons?
Tristan da Silva made a crucial 3-pointer that extended the Magic's lead, contributing significantly to their victory in Game 1.
What was Tristan da Silva's role in the Magic's playoff series last year?
Last year, Tristan da Silva hardly played during the Magic's first-round playoff series against the Celtics.
What impact did da Silva's 3-pointer have on the game against the Pistons?
Da Silva's 3-pointer helped the Magic maintain a seven-point lead, preventing the Pistons from closing the gap.
What did Tristan da Silva say about his performance in Game 1?
Tristan da Silva stated he wasn't focused on the time or score during his big shot, emphasizing that he takes open shots when available.
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That’s when Carter kicked the ball out to da Silva for the open 3-pointer.
“I knew Tristan was open in that corner, and I trust Tristan 100 times out of 100 to make that shot,” Carter said. “So that’s another layer of it, just the trust factor that we have for one another to make the right play. Whether the ball goes in or not, it’s just trusting each other to do what’s best for the team.”
The shot represented da Silva’s only 3-pointer from Game 1, which he finished with seven points and four rebounds in 21 minutes of action.
Against the Celtics last year, he averaged 2.5 minutes per game in just two limited appearances.
“Even being really up close last year and being able to see the level of focus, the level of preparation that goes into it and the level of play that’s at hand (and now) being able to experience that firsthand and playing, it’s a fun experience,” da Silva said.
“It’s the highest level of basketball, so everybody’s playing hard,” he added.
Game 3 between the Magic and Pistons is set for Saturday at 1 p.m. inside Kia Center. The Magic said they are encouraging fans to wear black for Game 3 and blue for Monday’s Game 4.
As the Magic and Pistons battle in the first round of the NBA playoffs, Anthony Black is facing off against former high school teammate Ron Holland II.
Black and Holland played together at Duncanville, which is located roughly 15 miles south of Dallas, and guided the Texas school to a state championship in 2022.
“It’s just something we always talked about — playing against each other or together in the league,” Black told the Sentinel. “So, it’s cool that we get to do that in the playoffs.”
Black and Holland aren’t the only names from the area in the series either. Although Cunningham finished his high school campaign at Montverde Academy in Central Florida, he started it at Bowie in his hometown of Arlington, Texas. There’s also Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins, who attended Hillcrest in Dallas.
Elsewhere in the East playoffs, there’s Sixers star Tyrese Maxey, who’s from Dallas and attended high school at South Garland. The list goes on.
“We feel like we’ve got one of the best groups of hoopers in the league,” Black said of the Texas natives. “You look all around these playoffs, it’s just a lot of dudes from Dallas playing real, impactful basketball.”
