Throughout the course of a best-of-seven playoff series, there are bound to be role players on either team that help shift a game one way or the other, even in limited action on the court.<\/p>\n
In Game 3 for Orlando<\/a> versus Detroit<\/a>, that was Jamal Cain<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Magic<\/a> forward, who started the regular season on a two-way contract before he signed a standard NBA deal to become playoff eligible, scored seven points in 14 minutes and added one rebound against the Pistons<\/a>.<\/p>\n Those numbers don\u2019t exactly jump out on a stat sheet, but they go a long way in a back-and-forth battle such as Game 3. Timing can also be key.<\/p>\n Take for example his corner 3-pointer that came with less than a minute left in the third quarter and helped the Magic go from up just eight points to leading by double digits again.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just those little things like that, that the guys have trust in him,\u201d Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said about the Michigan native. \u201cThey celebrate him when he has some success, but he just does all the little things within a game, rebounding, guarding multiple players.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd just does it without saying anything, just (does) what\u2019s necessary to help this team get a win,\u201d the Magic coach added.<\/p>\n While this fist-round series is Cain\u2019s first time seeing the floor in the playoffs, he\u2019s witnessed success in the postseason in the past watching from the bench. As a rookie on a two-way contract, Cain was a member of Miami\u2019s 2022-23 squad that reached the NBA Finals as a No. 8 seed.<\/p>\n After spending much of his first four years on a two-way contract with three teams (Miami, New Orleans and Orlando), Cain appears to have found his spot with the Magic as a 3-and-D type prospect who can knock down triples on offense and defend various positions on the other end.<\/p>\n During the final 17 games of the regular season, Cain averaged 9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 38% from 3-point range during 19.6 minutes per night.<\/p>\n Magic guard Desmond Bane saw Cain\u2019s potential as early as over the summer during voluntary workouts before the team even reported for training camp.<\/p>\n \u201cI knew he was a rotational player (back) in open gym,\u201d Bane said after shootaround inside the AdventHealth Training Center ahead of Monday\u2019s Game 4 against the Pistons. \u201cJust the way he defends, the way he\u2019s able to make open shots \u2026 (He\u2019s) unselfish and plays extremely hard. Those guys don\u2019t grow on trees.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, I knew it was only a matter of time, and in this league when you get your opportunity, you\u2019ve got to be ready,\u201d Bane added. \u201cAnd he was ready.\u201d<\/p>\n First-round schedule update<\/p>\n Game 5 on Wednesday between the Magic and Pistons inside Little Caesars Arena will tip off at 7 p.m., the league announced late Sunday night.<\/p>\n The game will be streamed nationally on Amazon\u2019s Prime Video. It can also be heard on Orlando radio station 96.9 The Game.<\/p>\n