Wendell Carter Jr. highlighted Orlando’s composure after the Magic survived a late Detroit Pistons rally in a 113-105 Game 3 win at Kia Center. The victory gave Orlando a 2-1 lead in the Eastern Conference first-round series after a chaotic fourth quarter swing.
“I mean, we’ve been in these situations throughout this season, previous postseasons,” Carter Jr. said. “Especially after that Game 2 where we kind of wasn’t able to weather their storm, I think we did a really good job of combating that.”
Carter Jr. credited Orlando’s top scorers for closing the game when momentum shifted. “I got to give a lot of credit to Franz and Paolo for taking those two big threes,” he said. “Like I said in my media earlier, that’s what the playoffs are about. It’s make or miss and your will to win.”
He added that the group has learned how to respond under pressure together over multiple playoff runs. “That’s the trust factor that we’ve built. It’s something that’s been built over these last couple years,” Carter Jr. said. “From the highs and lows to the positives and negatives that we could take from these past couple years, the one thing we’ve always been able to rely on is our effort and our energy.”
A major focus for Carter Jr. was his physical matchup inside, particularly against Jalen Duren. “Just being physical. Understanding it’s a physical game. That’s honestly it. Just bringing the fight to the game. As simple as that sounds is exactly what it is.”
When asked about Detroit’s reactions to his physical play, he was direct in his approach. “I just knew I had to be the most physical person out there or they were going to punk me. As simple as it is,” he said. “I’m going to continue to play my game no matter who’s out there.”
Carter Jr. also reflected on the team’s turnaround after facing elimination in the play-in tournament. “Fight,” he said. “We understood it was elimination game. We won it and it’s a brand new season now.”
Looking ahead to Game 4, he emphasized discipline and focus. “It’s about right now,” Carter Jr. said. “We’ve been taking care of business. Now it’s just about paying attention to Monday, cleaning up some of the mistakes, and giving ourselves the best chance to win the game.”
He also noted the importance of home support and confidence in the building. “Homecourt advantage is the name of the game,” Carter Jr. said. “Confidence is at an all-time high.”
The Magic will host Game 4 on Monday night, aiming to push the Pistons to the brink in a tightly contested series defined by physicality and late-game execution.
