Magic handles business vs. visiting Pistons
Published in Basketball
ORLANDO, Fla. — Before tip-off Saturday night at Kia Center, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley sat side-by-side with Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff as the two talked together and watched closely as their respective teams warmed up.
The coaches, who have both worked in the league for two decades, consider themselves close friends. Their families have even vacationed together in the past.
But during last year’s first-round East playoffs series between the Magic and Cavs — and on Saturday night during Orlando’s 111-100 victory over Detroit — their friendship went by the wayside as it was all business on the court.
That’s just the competitive nature of the NBA and the reality of the coaching relationship between Mosley and Bickerstaff, who was fired by Cleveland in the offseason before he landed in Detroit (7-11).
The 11-point win was Orlando’s eighth straight at Kia Center and their eighth overall in the last nine games regardless of location.
Debuting their latest City Edition uniforms, the Magic outscored Detroit 52-40 in the paint and held an 19-10 advantage on fastbreak points.
Orlando (11-7) heads to Charlotte on Monday and will search for just its fourth road victory.
Wagner Way
Coming off a 37-point performance, that included a game-winning triple against the Lakers on Thursday, Franz Wagner picked up right where he left off.
The Magic forward buried his first pair of 3-point attempts and had 18 points by the break.
He went on to add two more from distance when he totaled 30 points and nearly notched himself a triple-double with nine rebounds and eight assists.
The contest marked Wagner’s second straight with 30-plus points and his fourth in the last five games.
His older brother Moe Wagner was just as active on the offensive end getting to the basket.
Providing a boost off the bench as he usually does, Moe totaled an efficient 18 points (seven of eleven FG) to go with seven rebounds and five assists.
Suggs’ injury update
Jalen Suggs left Saturday’s game less than two minutes into the second quarter and was listed as doubtful to return due to a sore left hamstring.
The Magic guard shot one of three from the floor for just two points in nine minutes of action before he left the floor. He didn’t return to the contest.
Anthony Black started the second half in place of Suggs. The second-year guard had a slow start (four points in the first half) but pieced together a solid third quarter to finish with 11 points and five assists.
Rookie watch
Tristan da Silva made his 12th straight start and opened on the right foot when he hit his first triple of the night.
The No. 18 pick continued to do the small things right when he racked up eight points with six rebounds and an assist.
Up next …
Magic at Hornets
When: 7 p.m. ET, Monday, Spectrum Center
TV: FanDuel Sports Network Florida
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