NBA Matchups: May 1

DET @ ORL | CLE @ TOR | LAL @ HOU

Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic

Team Totals: Pistons 106.3, Magic 103.8

Injury Report: Franz Wagner (O, calf), Tobias Harris (Q, ankle), Kevin Huerter (Q, groin)

Magic projected starters: Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Jamal Cain, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr.

Pistons projected starters: Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Offensive Ranks: Magic 18th (17th halfcourt), Pistons 10th (16th halfcourt)

Defensive Ranks: Magic 14th (19th halfcourt), Pistons 2nd (2nd halfcourt)

Mosley quotes: Said free throws and rebounding were the problems, said Paolo “was aggressive as heck” and “that’s what we needed him to do,” said the eight-man rotation was solid for them and AB played well off the bench while guarding Cade, said they know they have to take care of homecourt and “hit singles.”

Bickerstaff quotes: Said Cade is special and that performance shows it, said they were better at keeping the Magic off the boards, said Ausar can “create chaos out there” and he was huge on the boards for them, said they gave it all they have to keep their season going, said they just have to be more aware of their counters.

Stats and notes:

*It was a star vs. star game on Wednesday, with dueling 45-point games from Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero. Besides that, the Pistons finally looked like the Pistons with a 16-8 offensive rebounding edge. They also kept the Magic to just eight restricted-area shots, as their interior presence was back. Detroit never trailed in Game 5, and they finally had a halfcourt O rating over 90 in this series (94.2). The Magic actually shot it great from deep at 45%, and Detroit was still able to control this game. If the Pistons can look like that again in Orlando, we might have a Game 7.

*Cade Cunningham finally got hot on the ball for his 45-point game. The Magic clearly missed Franz Wagner, and Cade was efficient on drives for 18 points on 19 drives. Cade lived on his jumpers, with 21 on his 23 shots from the field. With Franz probably out again, Cade should be in a position to feast again.

*Jalen Duren still can’t get anything going and is averaging just 10.2 PPG in 30.2 MPG in this series. He’s just not getting enough touches, and the Magic have been able to keep him off the boards for putbacks. Pass.

*Tobias Harris has been super consistent, as he was able to get a ton of second-side scoring over his 31.5 minutes in Game 5. The Pistons just need him out there to guard Paolo, and Detroit is pretty comfortable with Harris attacking on offense. He’s in a great spot again.