{"id":240782,"date":"2026-04-21T19:41:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T19:41:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/240782\/"},"modified":"2026-04-21T19:41:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T19:41:08","slug":"orlando-magic-prep-for-game-2-against-detroit-pistons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/240782\/","title":{"rendered":"Orlando Magic prep for Game 2 against Detroit Pistons"},"content":{"rendered":"

DETROIT \u2014 The last two trips to the NBA playoffs<\/a>, the Magic<\/a> have found themselves searching for the proper adjustments to try to win a game trailing in a series rather than leading from the jump.<\/p>\n

But not this year.<\/p>\n

Eighth-seeded Orlando<\/a> enters Wednesday\u2019s Game 2 against the top-seeded Pistons<\/a> with a 1-0 series lead after it won its first playoff game on the road under coach Jamahl Mosley<\/a> on Sunday.<\/p>\n

So how do they handle that difference?<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to really just focus on what you did well and the things that hurt you,\u201d Mosley said after practice inside Little Caesars Arena<\/a> on Tuesday. \u201cBecause obviously there\u2019s things in the game that you have to adjust to as the game goes on, but it\u2019s also action that you know you need to cover because you saw how it may have hurt you or what they would go to, but you don\u2019t want to over-anticipate.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou just have to do what you do, and do it well,\u201d he added. \u201cAnd then as they make adjustments to different lineups, different rotations, that\u2019s where it can be, and you\u2019ve got to adjust to that during the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

In this spot for the first time in his career,\u00a0Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. said he\u2019s talked in the past with players both active and retired who\u2019ve won and lost playoffs series after capturing a 1-0 series lead.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey always tell you, the first game is never (something) to overreact (to), so it\u2019s a seven-game series for a reason,\u201d Carter said. \u201cIt\u2019s always good to steal the first one on the road but there\u2019s nothing to celebrate or be excited about that.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s still more that we can do, more that we can get better at and we\u2019ll get ready for tomorrow,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

One area that Orlando could clean up is taking better care of the ball. The Pistons scored 18 points off 12 Magic turnovers on Sunday, which helped Detroit score 25 fastbreak points as well.<\/p>\n

Anticipating Detroit\u2019s adjustments while not over adjusting is also part of the challenge that comes in a playoff series.<\/p>\n

One change made by the Pistons could be Ausar Thompson\u2019s defensive assignment. The third-year pro, who finished third in the NBA defensive player of the year award voting on Monday, spent a large chunk of his time in Game 1 defending Magic guard Desmond Bane.<\/p>\n

While that slowed down Bane from beyond the arc \u2014 Bane only took one 3-pointer when guarded by Thompson, but six 3s when guarded by other Pistons, according to league-tracking data<\/a> \u2014 it led to others scoring for Orlando.<\/p>\n

At least two of Bane\u2019s five assists in Game 1 took place with Thompson guarding him and led to points scored near the basket by Carter Jr., who notched 14 of his 17 total points in the paint.<\/p>\n

Thompson said Sunday night that Orlando \u201cout-physical\u2019ed\u201d Detroit in the opening game of what was expected to be a physical matchup between two teams that prides themselves on that style of play.<\/p>\n

If Detroit does turn up the temperature in Game 2, the Magic welcome it.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s kind of the Orlando Magic I know since I\u2019ve been here,\u201d Carter said. \u201cWhen we were trying to figure it out, not having winning seasons to where we are now, one thing always stood on was being a great defensive and physical team. So, it\u2019s good to kind of see us regain that culture, especially now when we\u2019re going against a team like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added Magic guard Jalen Suggs: \u201cWe know that they\u2019re going to be ready to play. For us, it\u2019s just doubling down on our principles, on our standards.\u201d<\/p>\n

First-round schedule update<\/p>\n

Game 4 on Monday between the Magic and Pistons inside Kia Center will tip-off at 8 p.m., the league announced early Tuesday morning.<\/p>\n

The game will be broadcast nationally on NBC and streamed on Peacock. It can also be heard on 96.9 The Game, Orlando\u2019s leading sports radio station.<\/p>\n

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

Up next \u2026<\/p>\n

Magic at Pistons, Game 2<\/p>\n

When:\u00a07 p.m., Wednesday, Little Caesars Arena<\/p>\n

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