Magic at Pistons
Fresh off their first victory of the season, the schedule is setting up nicely for the Detroit Pistons to earn their first winning streak of the campaign. The Pistons set a franchise record with their 0-8 start but finally got into the win column with a strong performance at Philadelphia on Wednesday. They will try to make it back-to-back triumphs when they return home to host the struggling Orlando Magic on Friday.
Detroit entered Wednesday allowing 101.5 points but held the 76ers to 29.8 percent shooting in a 94-76 triumph. Anything close to that level of defense would probably be enough to stop the Magic, who have put up an average of 79.8 points in dropping five straight games. Orlando lost Dwight Howard in the offseason and has been missing starters Hedo Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson due to injury, robbing the team of some of the scoring punch it had last season.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSFL (Orlando), FSD (Detroit)
ABOUT THE MAGIC (2-5): Nelson has missed six straight games with a strained right hamstring and groin and Turkoglu has already had a setback in his recovery from a broken hand suffered in the season opener. That has forced Orlando to surround Glen Davis, Arron Afflalo and J.J. Redick with a host of younger players. The Magic committed 20 turnovers in a 99-89 home loss to the New York Knicks on Tuesday but came away with some positives from rookies Moe Harkless and Andrew Nicholson, who combined for 21 points off the bench.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (1-8): Detroit has had its own offensive woes at times in the first two weeks and has reached the century mark only once in the first nine games. But the Pistons put things together on the defensive end against Philadelphia and got a huge game from Greg Monroe with 19 points and 18 rebounds. Monroe has been the lone consistent offensive performer for Detroit, but got some help Wednesday from rookie Kyle Singler, who scored 16 points in a spot start in place of ailing Rodney Stuckey.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Detroit has played seven of its nine games on the road but gets five of its next seven at The Palace of Auburn Hills beginning Friday.
2. The Pistons beat the Magic twice at home last season, including a 102-95 win on April 3 in which Monroe put up 22 points and 11 rebounds.
3. Turkoglu is having his hand re-casted and will miss an additional month.