The All-Star Weekend is over, and in the NBA’s return, the Detroit Pistons will travel to face the Orlando Magic on Thursday. Not much was expected from either of these teams, but while the Pistons have the worst record in the Eastern Conference, the Magic are starting to look competitive.
Over the All-Star break, each team had two players competing in the Rising Stars Game. Rookie Paolo Banchero and second-year Franz Wagner participated for the Magic, while the Pistons saw their key rookies, Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren, play in the game. Banchero and Ivey played on the same team, winning the competition.
Let’s check the latest NBA news, stats, injury report and NBA lines for the Pistons vs Magic. We’ve got plenty of NBA picks for you to consider.
Pistons Eyeing Draft Odds
There was not a lot of excitement for this Pistons season, and nearly all hope of them being competitive was gone when Cade Cunningham went down. The Pistons have the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the third in the NBA.
That has not stopped the team from trying to add young talent throughout the roster, especially with bigs. At the trade deadline, they acquired former second-overall pick James Wiseman, who had a solid first game, scoring 11 points with five rebounds.
The only issue is now the Pistons have four serviceable young bigs, Wiseman, Isaiah Stewart, Marvin Bagley III, and Duren. While they each differ in some way, none are floor spacers. This could lead to a crowded paint area whenever two bigs are on the court.
Jaden Ivey’s rookie campaign may not put him in a position to compete for Rookie Of The Year. However, he has been given much more responsibility in Cunningham’s absence. Ivey struggled early, but the fifth-overall pick has gotten better. He has shown signs of improvement, averaging 15.9 points and 5.4 assists on solid efficacy over the last 10 games.
Magic May Surprise People
Would it shock you that the Magic have been solid over the last two months? Since Dec. 7, when the Magic ended a nine-game losing streak, they have gone 19-15. Sure, it is not the most impressive record, but given how the team has looked over the last two seasons, it’s something to note.
This stretch of good play is too long to be a fluke, with the Magic moving away from a “Tank for Wemby” possibility to making a run at the play-in. Their start after the All-Star break will be crucial to gauge how serious teams should take the Magic, currently four games out of a play-in spot. It does not seem likely they will make the play-in, but the team is drastically different than past seasons.
The two players who competed in the Rising Star Game are the most significant part of that change. Banchero and Wagner have played well above their experience level to make the Magic a competent team every night. Banchero has averaged 18.9 points and 6.6 rebounds since Dec. 7. Wagner is also averaging 18.9 points per game during that time.
Pistons vs Magic Game Injuries
Pistons vs Magic Head-to-Head
Despite the Magic showing much more promise, the Pistons have won three straight games against them, two this season. Both games were played in Detroit, seemingly helping the home team.
Pistons vs Magic Game Information
- Game: Pistons (15-44) vs Magic (24-35)
- Location: Amway Center, Orlando, FL
- Day/Time: Thursday, Feb. 23, 7:00 p.m. EST
- Pistons vs Magic Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Pistons vs Magic Betting Lines
Pistons vs Magic Picks and Prediction
The first game after the All-Star break can be all over the place. Players often return from vacation, where they may have taken some days off from practice, leading to slow starts. This could make taking the under in the points total a solid option.
However, the Magic are the better team, and due to their youth and play before the All-Star break, the team could be motivated.
The Orlando Magic are listed at -270 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Magic, you have a chance to win $37. The Detroit Pistons is +220, offering a chance to win $220 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Orlando Magic a 72.97% chance to win, with the Detroit Pistons at 68.75%.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
Pistons vs Magic Trends
Pistons vs Magic Edge
Pistons vs Magic Results
Pistons vs Magic Game Summary
Magic vs Pistons Previous Game (Dec. 28, 2022)
The Orlando Magic (13-22) and the Detroit Pistons (8-28) are rebuilding franchises, seemingly destined for top-five lottery odds in the upcoming draft. However, the Magic have their young star talent of the future healthy, leading them to eight wins in their last 10 games. The Pistons have lost nine of 10 as they struggle without their cornerstone player.
The Magic lost to the Los Angeles Lakers 129-110 on Tuesday as their youth was a problem with players in foul trouble. It seemed like the Pistons had the win over the Los Angeles Clippers sealed, so much so that their opponents emptied the bench. Instead, they lost in overtime 142-131.
With how good the Magic have been playing recently, it’s hard to see them give any ground against a Pistons team that has struggled to close out games. The Magic players are starting to build up confidence with this recent play, something the Pistons don’t have now.
