{"id":222363,"date":"2026-04-07T19:09:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-07T19:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/222363\/"},"modified":"2026-04-07T19:09:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T19:09:27","slug":"orlando-magic-hang-on-vs-pistons-host-timberwolves-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/222363\/","title":{"rendered":"Orlando Magic hang on vs. Pistons, host Timberwolves next"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Magic<\/a> did almost everything right against the Pistons<\/a> to build up a 22-point lead after three quarters of action but nearly let the game slip away in front of a sold-out crowd inside Kia Center<\/a> on Monday night.<\/p>\n

In the first three quarters, Orlando<\/a> made Detroit<\/a> pay for its mistakes by scoring 26 points off 17 turnovers. The Magic also shot 45% (9-for-20) from 3-point range while limiting the Pistons to 30% (6-for-20) on the other end of the floor. And Orlando outscored Detroit 18-10 in the fastbreak.<\/p>\n

Once the fourth quarter began, however, the Magic stopped doing what worked well and instead let their guard down to allow the Pistons to storm back and get within four points with four minutes to play.<\/p>\n

The Pistons opened the fourth quarter on a 10-0 run and later went on an 11-0 run midway through the final\u00a0 frame. Their efforts, however, came up short when Orlando recaptured control by ending the game on a 14-2 run on its way to a 123-107 victory.<\/p>\n

\u201cDoing this on the second night of a back-to-back, you\u2019ve got to give our guys a ton of credit for responding that way,\u201d Magic coach Jamahl Mosley<\/a> said after his team took New Orleans<\/a> on the road Sunday and Detroit at home Monday. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to make sure that we\u2019re communicating at the highest level and playing our style of basketball.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 16-point win was Orlando\u2019s third in a row. The Magic have won five of their past seven after previously dropping six in a row.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s largely because of that six-game losing streak, however, the Magic are still battling for postseason positioning with only three games remaining in the regular season. Because Orlando won on Monday and Philadelphia lost the same night, the Magic (43-36) entered Tuesday\u2019s slate of games in a three-way tie with the 76ers (43-36) and Hornets (43-36).<\/p>\n

The Sixers were seventh and the Hornets sat eighth because Philadelphia had a better winning percentage in games against the two other teams in the three-way tie. That tiebreaker left Orlando in the same spot it started the day: Still ninth.<\/p>\n

To be sure, the Magic can still finish as high as fifth in the East but also as low as 10th, a spot that would require winning two roads games in the Play-In Tournament in order to reach the playoffs. No. 10 Miami (41-37), which accomplished such a feat to earn a playoff series last year, was 1 1\/2 games behind Orlando after Monday.<\/p>\n

While they don\u2019t control their own destiny for spots 5-8, the Magic still feel confident heading into their final home game of the regular season Wednesday against Minnesota. Orlando then wraps up the regular season with two road contests: Friday at Chicago and Sunday at Boston.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s worth mentioning that six teams \u2014 Atlanta, Toronto, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Orlando and Miami \u2014 could still finish the regular season anywhere from seeds No. 5-10 entering Tuesday.<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t ask Jalen Suggs<\/a>, who recorded 12 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and three steals with only one turnover against Detroit, to explain the variety of tiebreakers and possible end-of-season outcomes for the Magic.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, it\u2019s hard to think too much about anything else other than going to win the next game, to be honest,\u201d he said. \u201cYou start looking at others and counting on others to do such and such, you put yourself in a bad spot.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, for us, the main focus is coming out and improving when we step on the court playing with that end-of-year urgency, knowing what\u2019s on the way and knowing what\u2019s in front of us that we have to go out and go get these games,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long year, but it\u2019s what has to be done. That\u2019s the standard at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Timberwolves (46-32) have plenty to play for in the West as well, as they aim to remain in the top six in the conference.<\/p>\n

Orlando would have an easier time winning its last three games of the regular season if the team can remain healthy. Franz Wagner<\/a> is expected back Wednesday after managing his left high ankle sprain on the second night of a back-to-back Monday.<\/p>\n

The Magic also saw Anthony Black<\/a> return to the floor Monday after he missed 15 games in a row due to a left lateral abdominal strain suffered March 7 at Minnesota. He shot 4-for-11 from the floor but still ended with 14 points in 15 minutes alongside two assists, two turnovers and two steals in first game back from nearly a month off.<\/p>\n

Although Black returned,\u00a0 Orlando lost starting center Wendell Carter Jr.<\/a> to a neck sprain and reserve forward Jamal Cain<\/a> to a left calf bruise in the second half against Detroit.<\/p>\n

Still, Black was a believer in the locker room after the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing up,\u201d he said when asked about the direction of the Magic. \u201cThree wins in a row. (We\u2019ve) got three more games to try to get better, try to keep our momentum going, going into the postseason.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we\u2019re in a good spot, and we\u2019re just going to try to keep getting better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Up next \u2026<\/p>\n

Magic vs. Timberwolves<\/p>\n

When:\u00a07 p.m., Monday, Kia Center<\/p>\n

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