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.