As the Magic returned home for Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the top-seeded Pistons, the players vowed they would shoot the ball better than they did during a deflating Game 2 loss at Detroit.
Inside a rowdy Kia Center on Saturday afternoon, eighth-seeded Orlando accomplished that goal behind seven 3-pointers from Desmond Bane, key runs in the fourth quarter and a higher level of defensive intensity.
Behind a combined 67 points from Bane (25), Paolo Banchero (25) and Franz Wagner (17), the Magic took a 2-1 series lead with an emphatic 113-105 victory over the Pistons, who turned the ball over 16 times that Orlando converted into 24 points.
Montverde Academy product Cade Cunningham, who tied the game at 104-104 with 3:14 remaining in the game with his third 3-pointer of the day, led all scorers with 27 points but shot just 3-for-10 from beyond the arc in 41 minutes.
The Magic didn’t wilt, though, and took hold of the game.
Wagner scored five straight points, including a 3-pointer with 1:46 left on the clock, to give Orlando control again late. Banchero then extended his team’s lead to eight points with 38.8 seconds remaining when his second 3-pointer bounced high above the rim and down into the basket.
The Magic shot 45.5% from 3-point range; they held the Pistons to 34.4% shooting from distance in the eight-point win.
The Magic host Game 4 Monday night on NBC and will try to extend their lead in the series to 3-1 with a victory.
The Bane event
The Magic guard shot a combined a 3-for-15 from 3-point range in the first two games on the road but found his rhythm from distance early in Game 3.
Bane started the afternoon with a reverse layup down the baseline on the opening possession and quickly raced up eight first-quarter points. In the first half alone, he shot 4-for-4 from beyond the arc to lead the team with 14 points at the break.
His four first-half 3-pointers tied the franchise playoff record for most 3s made in a single half. Bane added his fifth 3-pointer early in the third quarter and his sixth a couple of minutes later.
Finishing with 20-plus points for the 11th time in his playoff career, his seven 3-pointers tied the franchise record for most 3s made in a playoff game.
Orlando guard Jalen Suggs (4) and Orlando forward Franz Wagner (22) celebrate after a three-point shot Saturday. Orlando beat Detroit 113-105 to take a 2-1 lead in their NBA playoffs series. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)
Suggs’ strong second quarter
Suggs only took one shot in his first 10 minutes on the floor and was held scoreless in the opening quarter. That didn’t last long.
The Magic guard hit his first 3 of the afternoon from the right wing of the perimeter five minutes into the second quarter that capped off a 9-0 run. Suggs sunk another triple from almost the exact same spot with about a minutes left in the first half.
Scoring all of his 12 first-half points in the second quarters alongside three assists, Suggs finished with 15 points and found himself in foul trouble late.
He picked up his fifth foul with 5:45 left in the game but added three rebounds and three assists in 33 minutes.
Banchero’s impact
The Magic forward had a slow start when he opened 1-for-5 from the floor in the opening quarter and 2-for-9 in the first half. Although his shot wasn’t falling, he was still making plays for his teammates with eight rebounds and seven assists across his first 20 minutes.
Banchero, who missed two dunks in the first half, connected on a runaway slam that put Orlando ahead of Detroit by 11 points three minutes into the second half.
Forcing his way to the free-throw line where he shot 11-for-14 for the night, Banchero notched 20-plus points for the 12th time in his playoff career. He also set a new playoff career high with nine assists and added 12 rebounds.
Missed chances
The Magic made their way to the free-throw line throughout the afternoon but didn’t fully capitalize on trips.
Orlando missed seven free throws when it ended the afternoon, finishing 26-for-33 at the charity stripe.
Although Detroit shot fewer free throws, it was more accurate and went 20-for-24.
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Up next …
Magic vs. Pistons, Game 4
When: 8 p.m., Monday, Kia Center
TV: NBC/Peacock