
Spoelstra: No need to penalize Ball any further
Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
The Detroit Pistons will face either the Orlando Magic or the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the playoffs, starting April 19 at 6:30 p.m. The Magic and Hornets will compete for the No. 8 seed on Friday, with the loser being eliminated from the postseason.
The Detroit Pistons' first-round opponent has been narrowed to two teams.
They will either host the Orlando Magic or the Charlotte Hornets in Game 1 of their first-round series, scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. on NBC and Peacock.
The Sixers clinched the No. 7 seed on Wednesday with a 109-87 victory over the Magic in the play-in tournament. The Magic will now face the No. 9-seed Hornets on Friday, with the winner advancing as the No. 8 seed and securing a series with the Pistons, and the loser eliminated from postseason contention.
MORE PISTONS: The team most likely to upset Pistons in first round of NBA playoffs
The Pistons are marching into the playoffs with a 60-22 record – the third-best in franchise history – and winners of 15 of their last 19 regular season games.
They swept the Hornets and and won the series over the Magic 2-1.
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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons' first round opponent narrowed to two teams
The Detroit Pistons will play either the Orlando Magic or the Charlotte Hornets in the first round of the playoffs.
The Pistons' first playoff game is scheduled for Sunday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m.
The Orlando Magic and the Charlotte Hornets are competing for the No. 8 seed in the NBA playoffs.

Erik Spoelstra supports no further penalties for LaMelo Ball after flagrant foul.
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