Banchero scores 31, Bane adds 25 to help Magic lead Pistons back 123-107

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Paolo Banchero scored 31 points, Desmond Bane added 25 and the Orlando Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 123-107 on Monday night.

Jalen Suggs had 12 points, 12 assists, six rebounds and three steals for the Magic, who won for the fourth time in five games.

Announcement

Jalen Duren and Daniss Jenkins each scored 18 points for Detroit. Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green added 17 each for the Pistons, who had 21 turnovers.

After clinching the top playoff spot in the Eastern Conference on Saturday, the Pistons were without eight players, including Tobias Harris, Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert and All-Star Cade Cunningham, who missed his 11th straight game with a collapsed lung.

The Magic, playing for a position in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings, kept alive their chances of finishing in sixth place. With three games left in the regular season, Orlando could even finish in 10th place.

Orlando played without forward Franz Wagner, whose sprained ankle was placed under “injury management” following his three-game return from a lengthy absence. Anthony Black, who had missed 15 games with an abdominal strain, returned and scored 14 points in 15 minutes for the Magic.

Announcement

The first of Bane’s two 3-pointers in a span of 16 seconds put the Magic within 33-31 early in the second quarter, and they led the rest of the game.

Banchero scored twice during a 12-0 run that extended Orlando’s lead to 26 points late in the third quarter.

Green and Huerter led a late Pistons rally, and a Jenkins 3-pointer cut the margin to three points with 4:07 left before the Magic pulled away.

Next

Pistons: Host Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Magic: Host Minnesota on Wednesday.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba