Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic failed to close the Detroit Pistons for the second straight game on Friday after taking a 3-1 lead. The Magic recorded the lowest scoring half in NBA playoffs history in the final two quarters. The Utah Jazz held the previous record with 23 in Game 3 of the 1998 playoffs.
The Magic held a 24-point lead, but the lackluster second half, particularly the fourth quarter, took the game away from them. Orlando scored only eight points in the final 20 minutes, missing 19 of its 20 attempts from the field. The Magic missed 27 of its last 28 attempts from the floor.
It was probably their best chance to close the series, as it now heads back to Detroit for Game 7 with momentum on Cade Cunningham and Co.’s side after Friday’s 93-79 win. Paolo Banchero and Jalen Suggs had the most inefficient games. Banchero went 4 of 20 from the field, while Suggs went 1 of 10.
After the Magic recorded the lowest scoring half in NBA playoffs history, fans mocked them for squandering a great opportunity to complete the shocking upset after going up 3-1.
“this is really questionable on so many levels,” one fan said.
“1-20 in the 4th quarter?? At that point just hand the ball to the mascot and hope for a miracle,” another wrote.
“Honestly this is inexcusable for Paulo. You can’t be an All Star level player and let this happen to your team. Same for Jamahl Mosley. Like can you not call a timeout and draw something up?” one fan added.
“Might be the most generational choke of all time if they lose game 7,” one fan wrote.
“Might be the worst 12 minutes I ever watched . Pitiful,” another added.
Jamahl Mosley credits Pistons, says Magic had good looks which didn’t fall
Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley credited the Detroit Pistons for turning the heat on in the second half with their backs against the wall. As for the Magic’s offensive struggles, he said the team generated good looks, but just couldn’t get them to go in.
“Giving them credit for turning the intensity, picking up full court,” Mosley said. “Turned us over a couple of times, and they were able to get some really easy baskets. At the end of the day, a lot of shots didn’t fall for us in that situation. We had some good looks and they didn’t drop.”
The Magic blew a 24-point lead, which was the second-largest lead blown in franchise history. Meanwhile, the Pistons registered the largest comeback win on the road, facing elimination.
