The Orlando Magic fell 98-83 to the Detroit Pistons in Game 2 of their first-round series on Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena. A decisive 38-16 third-quarter run shifted the game after a tied first half.
Paolo Banchero pointed to offensive structure breaking down as Detroit increased pressure coming out of halftime. “I think we just got a little disorganized offensively,” Banchero said. “They started to try to speed us up with ball pressure, not letting us get into what we were trying to get into.”
The All-Star forward described the issue as collective rather than individual execution. “I think it was more so us not being on the same page to start the quarter, and they just took full advantage,” he said.
Detroit’s defensive intensity forced mistakes that quickly turned into transition opportunities. “Defensively we gave up some buckets. They got a couple turnovers,” Banchero added. “Runs like that, you can’t let happen on the road in the playoffs.”
Offensive inconsistency defined the night for Orlando, which shot just 33% from the field. Banchero acknowledged the difficulty of sustaining scoring against Detroit’s defensive pressure. “We got good looks and nobody really had a great night shooting the ball,” he said. “Not a game you’d expect to win after looking at the stat sheet.”
The Magic forward also stressed early-game missed opportunities that shaped the flow. “Trying to just slow it down offensively, be real intentional with what we want to do, and not allow them to get out and run off missed shots and turnovers,” Banchero said.
Detroit’s ability to extend possessions and capitalize on mistakes became a turning point. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 27 points and 11 assists, supported by balanced scoring across the roster.
Despite the loss, Banchero highlighted defensive stability as a key takeaway from the series so far. “We did our job getting one here on the road. Our defense has been really solid,” he said.
He also emphasized that the third quarter must be studied rather than dismissed. “You can’t just flush it and act like nothing happened. You got to go back and watch it, see what went wrong on both sides of the ball,” Banchero said.
Orlando now shifts to Game 3 at the Kia Center, where momentum and pace control will be central themes. “We know what type of series it’s going to be, an ugly, gritty series,” he said.
The Magic forward also reflected on the importance of response experience in playoff settings. “We were tied in the first half, let it slip away in the third quarter. Just got to learn from it and get ready for Saturday,” Banchero said.
Game 3 is set for Saturday in Orlando, where the series resumes with both teams tied 1-1.
