The Cade Cunningham-led Detroit Pistons put out their best against the Orlando Magic last night. The Pistons handed over a 105-96 defeat to the 4th seed Magic at Little Caesars Arena on New Year’s Day. The Magic were left helpless while they tried their best during the comeback attempt.
Emotions ran high when the Pistons charged at the Magic, 65-49, with only a couple of seconds left on the clock before halftime. Cunningham was seen hyping up his man Isaiah Stewart while he put out his elite defense against Jalen Suggs. The Magic guard made a throw at the basket but couldn’t capitalize on it.
However, it was not the day for Orlando. The team struggled and committed 12 turnovers that led to 20 points for Detroit. The Pistons displayed impressive offensive efficiency with the help of double-digit scoring from all five starters. They shoot an impressive 55% from three-point range. The Magic managed to capitalize on their opponent’s 24 turnovers, even with a spirited 14-1 run in the third quarter that brought them within five points.
Cade clapping for 10 seconds saying "That's what we want" "F*ck wrong with them" while Stew clamps Suggs is hilarious lmaooo https://t.co/SIr7PEAm9P pic.twitter.com/ZeZOzsCTbF
— Julie Gilchrist (@JulieanneGilch1) January 2, 2025
Ultimately, they couldn’t overcome a deficit that had ballooned to as much as 18 points. Jalen Suggs sparked hope for Orlando with a game-high 24 points. While Kentavious Caldwell-Pope initially set the tone by making his first eight shots, Suggs remained resilient after a quiet first half. However, despite the efforts of their starting lineup, the bench could not provide the necessary support and fell short of their season average.
Cade Cunningham Opens Up After Jaden Ivey’s Injury Scare
The Pistons had a great scoring rally from their top five. Jaden Ivey scored the most points for the team, but things turned critical during the game. Ivey was stretchered off the court after suffering an apparent leg injury in a collision with Magic guard Cole Anthony. He dove for a loose ball and landed on Ivey’s legs.
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The unfortunate incident occurred in the fourth quarter while Ivey was having an impressive performance, contributing 22 points, four assists, and one steal in 27 minutes of play. As Ivey was taken off the court with his left leg wrapped, Little Caesars Arena fell into silence.
His teammate Cunningham opened up about the tough emotions swirling around after his teammate Ivey’s injury scare. “It’s tough on the whole group.To see him hurting like that is tough on us, you know what I’m saying?” Cunningham said after the game.
Cade Cunningham commented on Jaden Ivey’s injury and how the team rallied after #Pistons
— Eric Vincent (@IAmEricVincent) January 2, 2025
Questions by @Johnny__Kane pic.twitter.com/C7vroB4v6n
Yet, amid the worry for Ivey, Cunningham emphasized the Pistons’ determination to push through and win the game for their injured teammate.
“Definitely, I mean, there were emotions with it where we hate to see our brother go down like that. At the same time, we want to go win the game for him. So, it’s easy to lock back in and say we’re going to go get this dub for him. Orlando is a good team, they made a couple of pushes at us, they got back in the game a few times, but we just stuck it out,” Cunningham added.
The Pistons managed to pull off a victory, with Cunningham stepping up with 19 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Now, their lineup depth will be tested against the Charlotte Hornets next at the same arena.
Also Read: Isaiah Stewart Didn’t Feel Like LeBron Hitting Him Was An Accident (VIDEO)
