Field Level Media
Mar 28, 2019
Wayne Ellington tied his season high with 25 points, including 17 in the third quarter, and the host Detroit Pistons ended the Orlando Magic's six-game winning streak with a 115-98 victory on Thursday.
Blake Griffin had 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for Detroit, which returned home after a 1-4 road trip. Andre Drummond added 18 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and six blocks.
Ish Smith contributed 15 points and six assists off the bench, while Langston Galloway added 12 points for the Pistons.
Aaron Gordon led Orlando with 20 points, and D.J. Augustin had 18. Evan Fournier added 13 points and Nikola Vucevic contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds. Terrence Ross and Jonathan Isaac also reached double figures with 10 points each.
The Pistons won the season series 3-1, which could prove valuable with both teams fighting for playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. Detroit shot 53.5 percent from the field and made 17 of 35 3-point attempts. Orlando shot 39.4 percent and connected on just 8 of 31 3-point tries.
The Pistons scored 30 points in each of the first two quarters and led 60-46 at halftime. Detroit shot 57.1 percent before halftime while holding Orlando to 32.7 percent. Griffin was the only Pistons player in double figures with 12 points while Augustin led the Magic with 11.
A long-range barrage by Ellington stretched the lead in the first 3:08 of the second half. He made four 3-pointers in that span to give Detroit a 20-point lead.
Ellington made another 3 with just over five minutes left in the quarter, then scored inside. When Drummond converted an alley-oop dunk moments later, the Pistons' lead was up to 26.
Galloway helped the Pistons keep the lead above 20 with two long shots later in the quarter. Detroit led 94-71 entering the fourth.
Orlando pulled within 16 early in the four quarter but a Griffin layup pushed the lead to 104-83. Drummond then tapped in a missed Smith layup.
--Field Level Media