NBA: Magic squeeze out win over Pistons in final second
Published February 25, 2024 1:18pm Paolo Banchero made a three-point play with one second remaining to give the visiting Orlando Magic a 112-109 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. Banchero knocked down a baseline jumper while being fouled by Jalen Duren. A 73-foot heave by Cade Cunningham bounced off the rim as time […]
Tomas Kauer - News Moderator 
Paolo Banchero made a three-point play with one second remaining to give the visiting Orlando Magic a 112-109 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.
Banchero knocked down a baseline jumper while being fouled by Jalen Duren. A 73-foot heave by Cade Cunningham bounced off the rim as time expired.
The Magic, who have won eight of their last 10 games, had eight players in double figures. Banchero led the way with 15 points, while Franz Wagner, Jalen Suggs and Moritz Wagner had 14 apiece. Cole Anthony contributed 13 points and seven assists. Wendell Carter supplied 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Moritz Wagner chipped in seven boards.
Cunningham led the Pistons, who have lost five straight, with 26 points. Simone Fontecchio had 17 points, while Duren supplied 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Magic finished the first half on a 21-11 run to take a 65-55 lead.
The Pistons opened the second half with a 12-2 run to tie it at 67-all. In the burst, Cunningham knocked down a pair of 3-pointers, sandwiching a three-point play from Duren. After two free throws from Carter, Fontecchio drained a 3-pointer.
Another Cunningham 3-pointer with 7:38 left in the quarter gave Detroit a 74-72 lead.
With the score tied at 80, Suggs knocked down a 3-pointer, then set up a Franz Wagner layup to give Orlando a five-point advantage. The Magic’s lead was still five at 90-85 entering the fourth.
Moritz Wagner opened the final quarter with a pair of layups to extend the advantage to nine.
Anthony hit two free throws with 8:53 left to give Orlando a double-digit lead at 101-90. However, Evan Fournier scored the next five points to pull Detroit within six.
Ausar Thompson dunked and Duren had a putback to cut Orlando’s lead to 106-103. Duren then made two free throws, which Franz Wagner answered with a layup.
After Franz Wagner split free throws, Cunningham scored in the lane to make it a two-point game. Banchero missed two free throws with 18 seconds left.
Cunningham then made a layup with 12.4 seconds left to tie it at 109.
–Field Level Media/Reuters
