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Orlando Magic Grades: Orlando Magic 115, Detroit Pistons 106

By Philip Rossman-Reich

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 2: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Detroit Pistons on March 2, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 2: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic shoots the ball against the Detroit Pistons on March 2, 2018 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic shook off a rough finish to regulation and clamped down on defense down the stretch to defeat the Detroit Pistons.

The Orlando Magic had been down this road before. Seemingly taking defeat from the jaws of victory. Their own mistakes and nervousness costing them games down the stretch.

Up two points, Nikola Vucevic rolled down the lane and had a free shot at the basket for a layup. He must have thought Andre Drummond or Blake Griffin was coming because he surprisingly passed it back out to Shelvin Mack. His open 3-pointer was no good. And James Ennis tied the game on a breakaway dunk.

Making matters worse, Nikola Vucevic then slipped driving to the basket from the elbow area with a chance to win the game. The Magic, instead of celebrating a victory, were headed to overtime.

That could rattle any team. But especially this one that had struggled so much for so long in these tight situations.

It took just one shot to break the seal for the Magic. One of their players struggling the most throughout the game finally got himself going.

Evan Fournier fumbled the ball and sidestepped the defense to drain a 3-pointer. That seemed to be a slump buster. He scored 10 of the Orlando Magic’s last 14 points to lead the team to a 115-106 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

It was their defense that held out for the team, surprisingly. Orlando buckled down to get the win that they needed to break a seven-game losing streak.

Detroit shot just 43.5 percent from the floor. And the Pistons had just one field goal in the final nine minutes of the game, missing all eight in the overtime. The Magic were scrambling for rebounds and contesting shots, even at the rim.

There were times the Magic could have easily quit. But the team never did. They found a way to gut out the victory even after all those mishaps and a seven-point deficit with about four minutes to play.

This was a team fighting hard to get the win and playing the way it needs to win games.

The Magic moved the ball effectively all game, dishing out 34 assists on 44 field goals. The team got stuck when they tried to isolate and drive too much. Those instances were fairly rare.

And, yes, the margin for error with this team is still small. But when given the chance to squeeze through, the Magic took it. Going after the Pistons and scoring a confidence-building win.

Orlando Magic. EVAN FOURNIER. B-. <a href=. G/F

PF. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON. A-. <a href=

B-. Nikola Vucevic was also fairly dialed in — at least in the second half. He still had his questionable plays. Perhaps trying to be a bit too unselfish at the end dishing it out to <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC

A-. <a href=. PF. Orlando Magic. JONATHAN ISAAC

C-. The Detroit Pistons looked like a typical Stan Van Gundy team in some moments. The ball whipped from inside to outside and the team drained 3-pointers with ease. There were points where the Orlando Magic could not do very much. But this is not that typical team. The Pistons would go cold for long stretches and find it difficult to score. Even with two stars in Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin.<p>The Pistons inability to get points in the final nine minutes of the game were a great example. Their only field goal in that time was the game-tying dunk, really a product of the Magic’s own boneheaded play late in the game.</p><p>Guys got their points and Detroit produced some highlights. They have the talent to compete and should be in the Eastern Conference playoff discussion. But things do not quite fit all the way together. Blake Griffin had a near triple-double and did not seem like he was totally involved in the game. It felt like Aaron Gordon got the far better end of that matchup. That is not a good sign for Detroit.</p>. 29-33. 10th East. DETROIT PISTONS

Next: OMD Podcast: Orlando City Preview

The Orlando Magic are back in action Saturday at the Amway Center as they take on the Memphis Grizzlies.