Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero powered the Orlando Magic past the Detroit Pistons with a stellar combined performance, scoring 64 points in a 121-113 victory on Saturday night. This win pushed Orlando them above .500 with a 24-23 record.
Wagner erupted for 25 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter. Banchero matched his teammate with 32 points while adding nine rebounds and seven assists in an all-around dominant outing. The duo shot a combined 21-of-44 from the field, including 7-of-14 from beyond the arc.
Jalen Suggs returned to action after missing 10 games due to a strained back, contributing eight points in 16 minutes off the bench. Wendell Carter also made his presence felt with a double-double, recording 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 35 points and 11 assists, continuing his impressive run as Detroit’s primary playmaker. Malik Beasley added 18 points off the bench, while Ausar Thompson chipped in with 16 points and five rebounds.
The Pistons (23-22) struggled to maintain their defensive discipline, committing 25 fouls that resulted in 38 free throw attempts for Orlando. Three Detroit players finished the game with five fouls each, hampering their ability to defend without sending the Magic to the line.
Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff was ejected midway through the fourth quarter after receiving back-to-back technical fouls. This incident came as the Magic mounted their decisive 42-point fourth-quarter surge, during which they shot an efficient 83.3%, including six of seven from three-point range.
Despite holding Orlando to just 18 points in the first quarter, Detroit’s defense faltered as foul trouble mounted. The Magic capitalized by scoring 36 points in the second quarter, turning the tide before their explosive finish.
Orlando’s starting lineup was intact for the first time since October, a factor that contributed significantly to their late-game cohesion. Jonathan Isaac provided a spark off the bench with 14 points and six free throws in 20 minutes of action, while Cole Anthony added seven points on perfect shooting.