The Magic Are Home For The Pistons

As Orlando basketball resumes after the All-Star Break the Magic are home for the Pistons. This is a battle of two young talented teams.

The Stats

Orlando sit 13th in the East with a 24-35 record.
Orlando score 110.9 points per game (28th of 30) and concede 113.7 (16th of 30).
Orlando are now 5-5 in their last 10 games. The home record is 14-15, whilst on the road it stands at 10-20.
The Magic are 18th in the NBA for pace, with an offensive rating at 25th and are 17th in defence.
Orlando played last on February 14th, losing in Toronto 113-123. Wendell Carter Jr led the team with 26 points.

Detroit are 15th in the Eastern Conference, with a 15-44 record.
Detroit score 112.3 points per game (25th of 30) and concede 119.9 (29th of 30)
The Pistons have won 3 of their last 10 games. Their road record is 7-23.
Detroit rank at 13th in pace, 26th on the offensive rating and 29th in the NBA’s defensive ratings.
The Pistons last played on February 15th, losing by 109-127 in Boston. Bojan Bogdanovic scored 28 points.

Orlando waived RJ Hampton and he has now signed for….The Detroit Pistons. He could make his debut for them tonight.
Caleb Houstan is on assignment to Lakeland Magic, as is Kevon Harris. Both are unavailable for Orlando tonight.
Detroit have Marvin Bagley III doubtful, RJ Hampton is listed as day-to-day. Cade Cunningham, Nerlens Noel, Buddy Boeheim and Jared Rhoden are out.

The Pistons lead the NBA for free throws made (21.0) and attempted (27.1) per game.
They crash the offensive glass, grabbing 10.9 offensive rebounds per game.
Detroit rank top 10 in second chance points per game with 15.0 of them per outing.
Pistons center Jalen Duren is leading all rookies in rebounding with 8.7 boards per game, 3.3 of them at the offensive end.
With Cade Cunningham out assists for Detroit come from Killian Hayes and Jaden Ivey, combining for 10.4 per game.
Bojan Bogdanovic leads their scoring with 21.8 points per game. He is shooting 40% from three.
Orlando begin the season run in seeking growth. Standards have to improve, including reducing turnovers, controlling emotions and maintaining defensive focus.
Rookie Of The Year favourite Paolo Banchero leads the Magic in scoring with 19.9 ppg (shooting 41.9%).
Markelle Fultz leads Orlando in assists at 5.5 per game.
Wendell Carter Jr is providing 15.4 points and leads the Magic with 8.5 rebounds per game.
Franz Wagner is averaging 18.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists this season.

This will be first meeting since the melee that saw 8 of the Magic squad suspended for leaving the bench. Perhaps there may be some ill feeling hanging over from the Moritz Wagner, Killian Hayes, Hamidou Diallo skirmish.
It is the third meeting of the season, with Detroit being 2-0.
Last season saw the series taken 3-1 by the Pistons.
The Pistons have won the last 3 meetings and 10 of the last 15 played.
The all time regular season head to head of 121 games sees the Pistons leading 51-70
Of the 19 games in the playoffs the record is again in the Pistons favour by 7-12. The Pistons took 3 of the 4 series played, most recently the 2008 Easter Conference semi-final.