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Orlando Magic Grades: Detroit Pistons 115, Orlando Magic 98

By Philip Rossman-Reich

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 28: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic and Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons go up for the rebound on March 28, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 28: Nikola Vucevic #9 of the Orlando Magic and Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons go up for the rebound on March 28, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Orlando Magic saw their six-game win streak snapped and their control over the eighth seed go away in a loss to the Detroit Pistons.

115. 64. Final. 98. 38

The Orlando Magic could be labeled overconfident after a six-game win streak and a stunning and thrilling back-to-back victory over the Miami Heat to stake their claim in the tightening playoff race.

The team erased 17-point deficits in two of the previous three games and struggled defensively in the first half of the other game before tightening things up. It might be easy to fall into the trap of believing you can reach down and grab that momentum again.

Eventually when you play with fire you get burned. You get beat by a team that is making a ton of difficult shots. Your energy never reaches that level and the other team punches you in the mouth.

All of that happened and more as the Detroit Pistons took hold of the game early and never let go in a 115-98 win at Little Caesars Arena, climbing into sixth, winning the season series and sending the Orlando Magic back to ninth in the Eastern

Conference. Detroit quickly snuffed any brief moment of clarity for Orlando with a barrage of 3-pointers.

None moreso than Wayne Ellington. He scored 17 of his 25 points and hitting five of his seven 3-pointers in the third quarter. The Magic constantly lost track of him as they tried to load the paint and stop Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin around the basket. He even hit a few over some good defense.

Nothing Orlando did defensively worked. The Magic were unable to get stops consistently.

And it was not like their main strategy of locking down the paint worked much either. The Pistons still scored 48 points in the paint and Drummond dominated inside as he rolled freely through the lane. The Magic were just never on the same page defensively.

Orlando still had its opportunities. The Magic closed the lead in the first half before a quick run gave the Pistons some cushion. In that second quarter, Orlando had a possession where the team grabbed four offensive rebounds, stole back the ball on one occasion and still came away with no points.

The Magic shot 39.4 percent from the floor and 8 for 31 from beyond the arc. They missed plenty of open looks too.

Orlando just never found its rhythm. It was not their day.

F. <a href=. C. Orlando Magic. NIKOLA VUCEVIC

B. <a href=. F. Orlando Magic. AARON GORDON

PG. Orlando Magic. D.J. AUGUSTIN. C-. <a href=

C. If the Orlando Magic were going to come back in this game, they would need <a href=. G/F. Orlando Magic. TERRENCE ROSS

38-37. 6th East. DETROIT PISTONS. A+. From the opening tip, the Detroit Pistons were trying to assert their will and dominance. They were not happy with a four-game West Coast trip that saw them lose three games and lose certainty in the playoff race. That much was clear early on. They had an extra pep in their step in their first game home.<p>From the first play, Andre Drummond was dominant. He had six blocks to go with his 18 points and 18 rebounds. That set a tone for the whole game. The Magic were not going to be able to go into the lane easily and score near the basket. And they were struggling to get decent shots in the half court offense either.</p><p>Detroit made its shots at an unusual rate, even over good Orlando defense. But those shots broke the Magic’s will defensively. They were never tied in and the Pistons took advantage. They really asserted their will on both ends. The perfect antidote.</p>

With the loss and the Miami Heat’s win over the Dallas Mavericks, the Orlando Magic drop to ninth in the Eastern Conference, one-half game behind the Heat for the final playoff spot. There are six games remaining in the regular season.

The Orlando Magic are next in Indianapolis to play the Indiana Pacers on Saturday.

Next. Orlando Magic still in the fight for sixth. dark

With the Mavericks’ loss to the Heat, the Magic are eliminated from receiving the sixth-best odds to win the NBA Draft Lottery. With one more Orlando Magic win or one more Memphis Grizzlies loss, the Magic will be eliminated from receiving the seventh-best odds to win the NBA Draft Lottery.