Win or bust, and an even first half 
The series situation left Detroit with no choice but to win. After dropping the opener, they needed a response and fast. The first 24 minutes were dead even. Cade Cunningham, who finished with 27 points, 6 rebounds and 11 assists, sparked the home side’s defensive edge. He came up with a clean block on Paolo Banchero. Duncan Robinson from deep and Tobias Harris in transition helped Detroit build an early lead. The score stood at 14-7.
Orlando hit back to bring things level again. JB Bickerstaff’s team still held a brief edge at 25-21 after the first quarter. Jalen Suggs and Paolo Banchero kept the pressure on Detroit’s defence, with the margin sitting at 37-36. Desmond Bane’s first perimeter make then locked things up at the half, 46-46.
A huge statistical swing in the third quarter
The start of the second half blew the game open. Detroit ripped off an 11-0 run. Cunningham was at the heart of everything, running the offence and making plays on the other end too. One and-one counted. One steal in the book. Suddenly it was 57-46. Orlando’s offence fell apart. Turnovers piled up. Clean looks disappeared. The Detroit Pistons’ defence smothered the Magic and killed any rhythm they had left.
Detroit kept pouring it on. Duncan Robinson drilled two more from beyond the arc. Ausar Thompson pounced on a bad pass and finished in the open floor for a 69-49 lead. Isaiah Stewart closed out a three-point play to make it 82-55. The numbers tell the story: 30 points to 3 in just eight minutes.
Orlando’s outside shooting falls apart
The fourth quarter merely confirmed the damage at 98-83. For Detroit, it also ended a miserable run: 11 straight home playoff losses were finally over. The series is now tied at 1-1.
The numbers for Orlando were ugly from the perimeter. The team went 8-for-32 from long range. Desmond Bane summed up the struggles from the floor. He finished with 12 points, shooting just 2-for-11 overall and 2-for-7 from three. The Magic have looked like two different teams through the first two games. Now the series heads to Florida.
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