Magic share confidence in reserve Jamal Cain: ‘The guys have trust in him’

TL;DR

Orlando Magic forward Jamal Cain scored seven points in 14 minutes during Game 3 against the Detroit Pistons, showcasing his potential as a key role player. His teammates express confidence in his abilities as they navigate the playoff series.

Key points

Jamal Cain scored seven points in Game 3
He played 14 minutes against the Pistons
Cain started the season on a two-way contract
He signed a standard NBA deal for playoff eligibility
Teammates have confidence in his abilities

Orlando MagicDetroit PistonsJamal Cain

(Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

Throughout the course of a best-of-seven playoff series, there are bound to be role players on either team that help shift a game one way or the other, even in limited action on the court.

In Game 3 for Orlando versus Detroit, that was Jamal Cain.

The Magic forward, who started the regular season on a two-way contract before he signed a standard NBA deal to become playoff eligible, scored seven points in 14 minutes and added one rebound against the Pistons.

Those numbers don’t exactly jump out on a stat sheet, but they go a long way in a back-and-forth battle such as Game 3. Timing can also be key.

Take for example his corner 3-pointer that came with less than a minute left in the third quarter and helped the Magic go from up just eight points to leading by double digits again.

“It’s just those little things like that, that the guys have trust in him,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said about the Michigan native. “They celebrate him when he has some success, but he just does all the little things within a game, rebounding, guarding multiple players.