Pistons end 6-game skid, win fight-marred game vs Magic
DETROIT (AP) – Alec Burks scored a season-high 32 points, Saddiq Bey added 28 and the Detroit Pistons overcame two players after a scrimmage to beat the Orlando Magic 121-101 on Wednesday night and snap a six-game losing streak. generation
“I’m really proud of our guys,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “We’ve struggled a lot and with a young team, it’s fantastic to see them play like this.”
Burks made his first 10 shots from the floor, including six 3-pointers, before missing a 3-pointer with 28 seconds left that would have given him a career-high 35 points. He also made all six of his free throw attempts.
“I wasn’t going to stop shooting,” Burks said. “You don’t expect it to happen, but you have to take advantage when it does.”
By hitting his final shot, Burks would have also broken Gary Payton’s NBA record for most points in a game without missing a field goal or free throw. Payton scored 32 points for the Seattle SuperSonics on January 4, 1995, going 13-for-13 from the floor and 3-for-3 from the line.
Killian Hayes and Hamadou Diallo were ejected after the game just before halftime. Moritz Wagner lunged for Orlando and was hit in the back of the head by Hayes and appeared to be knocked out briefly.
“He’s fine,” said Franz Wagner, Moritz’s younger brother. “I haven’t seen the video, but I know that’s the last thing he wanted to do.”
Jalen Duren finished with seven points and 18 rebounds for the Pistons, who got 76 points from their bench, which has led the NBA in scoring in December.
“They’re tough to play because they have a starting lineup with two big players (Duren and Isaiah Stewart), and then a completely different style with the second unit,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said.
Franz Wagner had 19 points for Orlando, which has lost back-to-back nights after winning eight of nine.
“They just started shooting,” Mosley said. “They play a lot faster with that second group, and both Alec and Saddiq really came back.”
With 33 seconds left in the first half, Moritz Wagner checked Hayes on the Pistons bench as they chased down a loose ball. With Wagner facing the players on Detroit’s bench, every Orlando player in uniform ran in place.
Wagner was sent off for a flagrant foul, while Hayes and Hamadou Diallo were sent off for their actions afterwards. Hayes got back up and hit Wagner in the back of the head, knocking him to the bench.
“I need an explanation about the decision because my understanding is that you can’t leave the bench area and escalate a situation,” Casey said. “Then really bad things can happen.”
Detroit’s second unit outscored Orlando 42-14 in the first half, with Bey (16), Burks (14) and Diallo (11) all reaching double figures.
The Pistons led 66-47 at halftime and Orlando was unable to get the lead back into single digits.
COUNCIL INS
Pistons: Burks started the second half with Hayes going down, leaving Detroit’s second unit without two of its top three scorers. He was called for a flagrant 1 foul for an unsuccessful attempt to stop Mo Bamba from dunking late in the third quarter, leading to a five-point Magic possession.
NO PANIC FROM MAGIC
Franz Wagner, Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr., Gary Harris and Mo Bamba were among the Orlando players who left the bench during the halftime showdown. They could face one-game suspensions, but said they did not feel they had a choice.
“We are aware of the rule, but things like this usually happen on the pitch, not on one of the benches,” said Franz Wagner. “Your concern is that your teammate is down there among the rest of the team.”
Wagner said, “Oh, for sure,” when asked if his concern stemmed from his brother being snapped up by the Pistons.
CLOSER TO KUKOC
Bojan Bogdanovic’s 14 points gave him 9,787 in his career, 23 behind Toni Kukoc’s record for a Croatian player.
NEXT
Magic: Expect the Washington Wizards on Friday.
Pistons: Visit the Chicago Bulls on Friday.
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