Pistons at Magic
The Orlando Magic look to end the season on a high note, after experiencing the largest margin of defeat in franchise history, when they host the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night. The Magic have dropped seven of eight as their disappointing season draws to a close, but none worse than the 122-75 setback Monday at Chicago when they shot 34.5 percent from the field.
“They came out ready, and they played for the whole game,” Orlando center Nikola Vucevic told reporters of Chicago, which was fighting for a playoff spot. “… We just gave in early on and we fell apart. We didn’t play as a team. We didn’t play the right way.” Detroit will also be missing the playoffs after stumbling down the stretch, going 4-11 since it was 33-33 and right in the middle of a race for the postseason. The Pistons, who are 13-27 on the road, lost 105-101 in their finale at The Palace of Auburn Hills before a move to the Little Caesars Arena next season. Detroit’s leading scorer Tobias Harris is averaging 18 points and shooting 51.5 percent from the field in the last five contests.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, FSN Detroit, FSN Florida (Orlando)
ABOUT THE PISTONS (37-44): Harris scored 22 on Monday to push his average to 16.2 for the season and Reggie Jackson (14.5) is second on the team, but the point guard has been shut down due to a knee injury. Andre Drummond (13.7 points, 13.8 rebounds) goes for his 50th double-double of the season after going without one in the last three contests. Point guard Ish Smith is finishing the season strong while averaging 16.8 points and six assists over the last eight games.
ABOUT THE MAGIC (28-53): Orlando won just once since knocking off the Pistons 115-87 at home on March 24, when point guard Elfrid Payton notched a triple-double with 14 points, 11 boards and 10 assists. Evan Fournier led the team in scoring most of the season (17.2) and Vucevic (14.6 points, 10.4 rebounds) is productive, but defense has been the biggest problem. Coach Frank Vogel told reporters: “I haven’t gotten the most out of these guys on the defensive end.”
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pistons entered Tuesday 26th in the league in scoring (101.2) while Orlando is 27th (100.9).
2. The Magic allowed at least 120 points in four of their last five contests
3. Detroit G Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, averaging 13.7 points overall, is 4-for-18 from the field the last three games.