Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 115, Detroit Pistons 87

The Orlando Magic turned in one of their best performances of the season, routing the Detroit Pistons in every way for an easy win at Amway Center.

The Orlando Magic have long awaited a game when it was clearly going to be their night. Where everything goes in and everything goes wrong for the other team. It has happened against them plenty of times before in this frustrating season. It seems every team gets one or two of those nights for them and against them.

Still, you have to put the pieces together and make it happen.

So when Elfrid Payton lobbed a pass to the far end of the rim to let Aaron Gordon go get it and slam it down with some thunder and force, it was clear whose night this was. When Mario Hezonja weaved his way through the lane and found Bismack Biyombo — multiple times — it was clear whose night this was. When Terrence Ross was coming around screens and firing and making shots, it was clear whose day this was.

The Orlando Magic ran roughshod through the Detroit Pistons 115-87 getting stellar performances from Elfrid Payton (another triple double), Mario Hezonja, Terrence Ross, Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic. Pretty much anyone wearing a Magic uniform.

Orlando held Detroit to 35.4 percent shooting and just 2-for-22 shooting from beyond the arc. The Pistons could not get themselves moving offensively and could not get stops defensively.

The Magic hit 51.6 percent of their shots and had 36 assists on 47 field goals — including 30 assists on 38 makes after three quarters before the game became a formality for the final 12 minutes.

It was the kind of epic beat down the Magic have suffered far too many times this season and had yet to dole out to some unsuspecting and unfortunate victim. Orlando had this one a long time coming.

But the Magic had to go out and earn it. The Pistons had every reason to play hard and the Magic took away their will to compete and get back into the game until they were up 30 and the result was decided

Magic coach Frank Vogel probably summarized it best after the game. This was the Magic’s best and most complete win this season.

A. Elfrid Payton, as he has often been since the All-Star Break, was the catalyst for the Orlando Magic throughout the game. He sucked attention to himself throughout the game with his drives and was able to kick the ball out to shooters at will. When he needed to the lob game was there, and easily there with Aaron Gordon floating around the rim.That is what Elfrid Payton does. And increasingly he is doing it more and more since the All-Star Break. Payton recorded his fourth triple double of the season with 14 points, 11 rebound sand 10 assists. He was aggressive in every aspect.But where he was most important was his willingness and desire to chase after 50/50 balls. He was the first to several loose balls and to the floor to get steals or rebounds. Those are the important plays he has increasingly dug out more and more to support his team. This was not a hollow triple double. It did not accurately reflect his contribution.. PG. Orlando Magic. ELFRID PAYTON

B+. Just as important as Elfrid Payton’s contributions were Mario Hezonja’s somewhat understated contributions off the bench. The bench has been a sore spot for the Magic all year and the team held a slender four-point lead after one quarter. It could have been easy to watch the Magic fall behind with the bench struggling. And the Magic still had some of those struggles in the second quarter.But Hezonja made sure they did not fall into an abyss and gave the Magic firm control of the game. He had four of his six assists in the first half, moving the ball well from the power forward spot. That is correct. Hezonja was playing much freer and seemed to have a better matchup advantage playing at power forward. And he made it work.Hezonja finished with six points and six assists. He still struggled to make open looks when he got them. But Hezonja recognized it was not his game to score and did not push for his shot. Instead, he remained patient and drove to get looks for others. And that made a world of difference for a bench that has struggled to keep the ball moving. . F. Orlando Magic. MARIO HEZONJA

G/F. Orlando Magic. TERRENCE ROSS. B+. Consider this the upswing in Terrence Ross’ never-ending pendulum. Ross followed up Wednesday’s solid shooting performance with another good one, scoring 18 points on 6-for-9 shooting including 5-for-6 from beyond the arc.In yet another sign of how good the Magic were working together, Ross was quick to come around screens and fire it up before the defense could react. Ross has that quick trigger and can make quick decisions. Some nights, those shots go in. Some nights, they do not. That is kind of Terrence Ross’ story throughout his career.Tonight those shots went in. And Ross helped spark the entire team. He also added some nice defensive plays, although he struggled with fouls early in the game.

A-. Aaron Gordon really has to keep things simple sometimes. But what he can do when he keeps things simple can have major impact. Especially when Elfrid Payton is playing at this high level and causing havoc in the paint. That is when Gordon’s intelligence around the basket really shines.Gordon finished with 16 points and made 8 of his 11 shots. Four or five of them were dunks on lob plays or him just being near the basket to clean up for putbacks. Gordon was active and energetic throughout and that put him in position to score on multiple highlight reel plays. There may not be a better cutter on the team right now. Gordon takes space and explodes to the basket once he receives the pass.Defensively, Gordon was key in locking up Tobias Harris. Harris scored only 11 points, the only Piston starter in double figures, and shot just 3 for 8. Gordon was great at keeping Harris in the mid range and forcing him into difficult shots throughout the evening. It helped set a good tone for the Magic throughout.. PF. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON

10th East. DETROIT PISTONS. F. There is not much that can be said about the Detroit Pistons right now. The team is in a tailspin, falling out of pole position for a Playoff spot and losing ground fast. The team is doing a lot of soul searching, but finding few answers. And a 28-point loss to the Orlando magic, on the heels of a blowout loss to the Chicago Bulls and a loss to the Brooklyn Nets, is not encouraging.The Pistons did not have it. They were not aggressive at all. And the Magic beat them to every loose ball. Shots were not falling which does not help, but the Pistons put up little resistance defensively either.All the Pistons key players were non factors. Andre Drummond provided no resistance defensively to the Magic attacking the basket, allowing the Pistons defense to get sucked in and away from the 3-point line. Reggie Jackson was coming off the bench behind Ish Smith and not doing much even against reserves (5-for-14 shooting). And Harris struggled to get himself going against Gordon. Stan Van Gundy was curt in his postgame because there is not much that needs to be said.. 34-39