The Detroit Pistons lost Game 1 of the playoffs to the Orlando Magic, 112-110, extending their home playoff losing streak to 11 games. To avoid going down 0-2 in the series, the Pistons need to improve their performance in Game 2.
Key points
Pistons lost Game 1 to Magic 112-110
Home playoff losing streak now at 11 games
Cade Cunningham emphasizes need for better energy
Five strategies needed to avoid 0-2 series deficit
Game 2 is crucial for Pistons' postseason hopes
Detroit PistonsOrlando MagicCade Cunningham
Detroit — The atmosphere was electric at the start of Game 1 inside Little Caesars Arena on Sunday evening, but by the time the final buzzer sounded later that night, all the energy had vanished.
The No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference had a disappointing performance. They allowed the Magic to record a wire-to-wire victory, which extended the Pistons' home playoff losing streak to 11 games. As the Pistons aim to tie the series and end their playoff home losing streak in Game 2, there are five things they must do Wednesday night to avoid going down 0-2.
"I think we came out a little tight. We did not come out with the right energy," guard Cade Cunningham said. "(We have) to be better; we will be better. I’m still very excited about this series and where it’s going to push this team to. There are a lot of things we can learn from this game. We’ll move forward and be better."
Getting off to a better start
The Pistons had been off for a week, and it showed in their Game 1 loss. They were two steps behind the Magic the entire night, particularly evident in their sluggish start during the first quarter.
Orlando capitalized on Detroit's slow start, racing to an 18-5 lead. Jalen Suggs was instrumental, scoring eight points to help fuel the Magic's offense. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has repeatedly emphasized the results of their defense set the tone for their overall performance. Detroit allowed Orlando to start the game shooting 62.5% from the field with three made 3-point field goals.
The Pistons' slow start created a deficit they could not overcome, as they appeared rusty and failed to match Orlando's physicality from the start. As part of their inability to match Orlando's production, they lost a handful of statistical categories. One of which was the battle of the boards, where the Magic out-rebounded the Pistons, 45-39.
"They’ve been off. We found a little bit of rhythm playing so many games, so that always plays a part in it. But I’m still just happy that our guys came out and defended the right way," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. "We were intentional in how we executed our offense. I think those are the things that we talked about being able to do against a great team like this. How they turn you over, how they defend, how they rebound the basketball — all those small things within the game. I was happy that we accomplished that with this group."
Q&A
What did the Detroit Pistons need to do to avoid losing Game 2?
The Pistons need to implement five key strategies to improve their performance and avoid going down 0-2 in the series.
How did the Detroit Pistons perform in Game 1 against the Orlando Magic?
The Pistons lost Game 1 with a score of 112-110, marking their 11th consecutive home playoff loss.
Who is the key player for the Detroit Pistons in the playoffs?
Cade Cunningham is a key player for the Pistons, emphasizing the need for better energy and performance in the upcoming games.
What is the significance of the Pistons' home playoff losing streak?
The Pistons' home playoff losing streak of 11 games highlights their struggles in postseason play and adds pressure to perform better in Game 2.
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Cade Cunningham scored 39 in Game 1 vs. the Orlando Magic, but didn't get much help offensively from teammates.
Cade Cunningham scored 39 in Game 1 vs. the Orlando Magic, but didn't get much help offensively from teammates.
Sharing the game
The Pistons had two players who scored in double figures in Game 1. Cunningham scored a game-high 39 points and was a one-person show for most of the night. His performance set a franchise record for the most points scored by a player in an opening-round series.
Tobias Harris finished with 17 points, but he shot 5 of 15 from the field, including 1 of 7 from 3-point range. His performance was not as effective.
To avoid falling behind 0-2 against the Magic, the Pistons must revert to their philosophy of sharing the game. Bickerstaff noted each time the Pistons came within striking distance, too many players pursued the "home-run" play, which killed momentum and led to a stagnant offense on several occasions.
Playing with a stagnant offense led to only 19 assists, significantly hindering Detroit's offensive success. The Pistons posted the league's ninth-best offense during the regular season, and a great deal of it stemmed from their ability to move the ball. They averaged 27.8 assists per game during their 60-win regular season.
"It’s something we just need to pay attention to. I think they were spot on," Bickerstaff said. "There were times in the games where we got stagnant. I feel like that happened to us because we got down early. Then it felt like there was so much weight and so much pressure on each possession. I thought there were moments where we found what we needed to do, and we just need to replicate that more often."
Needing more from the big fella
The Pistons need to revert to the team-oriented style that helped them win 60 games during the regular season, with multiple players contributing to the offense. Excluding Cunningham, everyone must enhance their offensive performance entering Game 2, but none more so than Jalen Duren.
The All-Star big man had his least effective game, finishing with eight points on just four shot attempts, while also grabbing only seven rebounds. Duren must find a way to counter the Magic's defensive scheme, not only to get into an offensive scoring rhythm but also to utilize his skills as a secondary or tertiary creation hub.
Duren also needs to improve his impact on defense, as he was responsible for several Magic players scoring easily at the basket. He finished with a minus-21 in 33 minutes played.
However, Duren has consistently demonstrated the ability to recover after a tough night during the regular season. Following games in which he scored in the single digits, he averaged 18.6 points and 11.8 rebounds.
Getting back to the bench mob
Duren had a disappointing performance in Game 1. But if the Pistons had maintained their collective approach, it might have been enough to keep them competitive despite Duren's subpar night, especially from the "Bench Mob." Detroit's bench scored only 20 points, significantly below their season average of 41.3 points per game. The Pistons' bench unit was in so much disarray that it posted a net rating of minus-10 during minutes played without Cunningham.
Daniss Jenkins had the most disappointing performance among the six players who came off the bench. He failed to fulfill his role as the team's secondary shot creator, finishing with seven points on 1-for-7 shooting in 22 minutes. Aside from hitting one 3-pointer in three attempts, Kevin Huerter was largely absent during the 18 minutes he played.
Aside from blocking Paolo Banchero's dunk attempt late in the first quarter, Isaiah Stewart's performance was below his usual standards. He finished the game without scoring any field goals and recorded only four rebounds. During the regular season, Stewart played 55 games and averaged 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds.
"He (Cunningham) was doing what he had to do. We were struggling to score, and I like the way he was being aggressive," Bickerstaff said. "Our offense has to have that fluidity; we have to add more movement, we have to fight through their physicality more. We cannot settle for the first thing."
Better rotation
Bickerstaff remained committed to his strategy regarding player depth. Bickerstaff used 11 players in Game 1; however, his lineup and rotations seemed disordered, as he continually searched for a combination that would energize the team.
Bickerstaff's decisions might have led to certain players not being used at key moments. For instance, after the team fell behind by double digits early in the game, Javonte Green provided a spark in the second quarter. Similarly, Caris LeVert also made an impact, but both players played less than five minutes and did not see the court at all in the second half. They averaged a combined 18.4 minutes during the regular season.
Ausar Thompson played 25 minutes, but it was surprising that he only had nine minutes in the second half, especially since he might have been the Pistons' second-best player during Game 1. He proved why he finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting, wreaking havoc on defense with three steals, eight points and seven rebounds.
In Game 2, Bickerstaff should prioritize utilizing the players who are delivering the best results, regardless of their positions on the team. Considering Bickerstaff was looking to make adjustments, he should also have considered bringing in Paul Reed, especially given the struggles of Duren and Stewart.
Magic at Pistons, Game 2
**▶ Tip-off:**7 p.m. Wednesday, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit
▶ Series: Magic lead, 1-0
▶ TV/radio: ESPN
▶ **Outlook:**The Magic came to Detroit and won Game 1. However, if history repeats itself, the Pistons should be just fine. Since 2012, the Magic have won Game 1 in three of their last five first-round matchups, but they have lost each series. Their latest Game 1 victory came in 2020, when they were the No. 8 seed, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 122-110. The Bucks proceeded to win the series in five games.
