Magic’s Paolo Banchero has no answer to ‘very bad drought’ in Game 6

The Orlando Magic suffered a dramatic collapse in a 93-79 Game 6 loss to the Detroit Pistons in their first-round playoff series on Friday night.

Magic forward Paolo Banchero finished with 17 points on 4-for-20 shooting, including 0-for-9 from three-point range, along with 10 rebounds, six assists, and two steals in 41 minutes. Coming off a 45-point performance in Game 5, where he shot 54.5% from beyond the arc, he found things much harder just two days later. Game 6 marked his lowest scoring output of the postseason.

When asked after the game how he can stabilize Orlando’s offense with ball movement during bad runs, Banchero said:

“Yeah, I mean, it’s the playoffs and this series has been a slugfest, so I wish I had some complex answer as to what action or whatever ball movement,” he said. “But sometimes the game just goes that way, and unfortunately, we had a very bad drought tonight, and you just gotta wipe it off and get ready for game seven. At this point, there’s no point in dwelling and thinking about what could have went our way. It didn’t go our way tonight.”

The Magic appeared in full control early, building a 22-point halftime lead and extending it to as much as 24 points in the third quarter. However, the game shifted completely after the break. Orlando managed just 19 points in the second half, shooting 4-for-37 from the field over the final two quarters. They went 1-for-20 in the fourth quarter and missed 23 consecutive shots.

The Pistons capitalized on the collapse with a 55-19 second-half advantage, including a game-changing 35-5 run. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals, while Tobias Harris contributed 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Pistons defensive intensity was the backbone of the effort, holding the Magic to just 11 points in the third quarter and eight in the fourth.

The loss was historically significant. Orlando became the first team since the 1996-97 season to lose at home after leading by at least 24 points in a potential series-clinching game. Their 19-point second half set a playoff record for the fewest points in any half.

The series is now tied 3-3, setting up a winner-take-all Game 7 in Detroit on Sunday. The Magic, who have now lost both closeout opportunities, face a difficult challenge on the road, especially given historical trends where home teams hold a 113-38 record in Game 7s outside of neutral-site games.

The post Magic’s Paolo Banchero has no answer to ‘very bad drought’ in Game 6 appeared first on ClutchPoints.