Celtics seek sweep of season series with Magic
Field Level Media
05 May 2021, 05:05 GMT+10
Young, hungry opponents have proven to be problematic for the Boston Celtics at times this season.
They will face another one in the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.
Boston (34-31) will look to strengthen its record in hopes of avoiding the play-in round when it visits Orlando. The Celtics begin a stretch of five out of seven games away from home to close the regular season.
As good as the Celtics have looked in wins over contenders such as Milwaukee, Denver, Phoenix and the Los Angeles Clippers this season, they have played as poorly in losses to bottom dwellers such as Cleveland, Sacramento, Detroit and Oklahoma City.
The Detroit Pistons controlled the first 18 minutes of the game Monday night, but the Orlando Magic flipped the switch midway through the second quarter.
In a game that could impact the final lottery odds in two weeks, the Pistons (19-46) lost to the Magic at Little Caesars Arena, 119-112. Detroit took a 43-36 lead at the 6-minute mark of the second quarter, but Orlando closed the quarter with a 15-3 run and led the rest of the way.
With the loss, the Pistons separation for the second-best lottery odds grew. Detroit has a worst record than the Minnesota Timberwolves (20-45), the Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder (both 21-44).
Three quick observations from Monday night’s 119-112 loss to the Orlando Magic at Little Caesars Arena
YOUNG GUNS – Already young, the Pistons went even younger in the season’s 65th game. By swapping out Josh Jackson, 24, for Hamidou Diallo, 22, in the starting lineup, the Pistons fielded a starting five averaging 20 years 11 months and including 19-year-old rookies Killian Hayes and Isaiah Stewart, 20-year-old Sekou Doumbouya and a third rookie, Saddiq Bey, who turned 22 last month. Whether it was youth catching up to them or something else, the Pistons allowed 68 second-half points to an Orlando team that traded away stars Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon at the March trade deadline after injuries undermined its playoff hopes. Orlando held a 105-91 lead with six minutes to go, but the Pistons went on a 13-2 run in less than three minutes to close within three points. Bey scored eight points in the run and finished with 24, hitting 5 of 10 3-point shots to exten
Magic top Pistons behind Bamba s big night
Mo Bamba had 22 points and 15 rebounds both career highs and the Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 119-112 on Monday night.
The Canadian Press Sekou Doumbouya, James Ennis III, Mo Bamba , The Canadian Press
DETROIT Mo Bamba had 22 points and 15 rebounds both career highs and the Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 119-112 on Monday night.
Saddiq Bey led Detroit with 26 points in a game that had little at stake with the possible exception of lottery positioning. The Pistons (19-46) have the second-worst record in the NBA. Orlando (21-44) is now even with Oklahoma City for the fourth-worst mark. Idle Minnesota (20-45) is in between.
DETROIT (AP) â Mo Bamba had 22 points and 15 rebounds â both career highs â and the Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 119-112 on Monday night.
Saddiq Bey led Detroit with 26 points in a game that had little at stake â with the possible exception of lottery positioning. The Pistons (19-46) have the second-worst record in the NBA. Orlando (21-44) is now even with Oklahoma City for the fourth-worst mark. Idle Minnesota (20-45) is in between.
The list of injuries and absences was lengthy on this night. Detroit was without Wayne Ellington (calf), Jerami Grant (right knee), Cory Joseph (left ankle), Rodney McGruder (right elbow), Jahlil Okafor, Mason Plumlee (rest) and Dennis Smith Jr. (left knee Soreness). The Magic were missing Devin Cannady (right ankle), Michael Carter-Williams (left ankle), James Ennis III (right calf), Markelle Fultz (left knee), Jonathan Isaac (left knee), Chuma Okeke (left ankle), Otto Porter Jr. (left foot) and Terrence Ross (back).