No Magic At The Palace, Pistons Snap Skid: 103-87

Jan 28, 2014; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings (7) moves the ball defended by Orlando Magic shooting guard Victor Oladipo (5) in the second half at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Detroit 103-87. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

– Led by the play of their lead Guard Brandon Jennings (20 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds), the Detroit Pistons managed to not only snap their second largest losing streak of the season (4-games), but they also hold on to a double-digit lead in the second half of the game, at home.

Orlando Magic Rookie Guard Victor Oladipo led the way for Orlando, contributing 19 points, 6 turnovers, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists in 25 minutes in a losing effort for Orlando. The Magic have now dropped their 20th game on the road this season, they are (3-20) away from the Amway Center this season, worst road record in the entire NBA.

The Pistons finally get that monkey off their back on a bitter cold Tuesday night affair with the visiting Orlando Magic. The Magic, who came into the game with an overall record of (12-33) and a road record of (3-19), were coming off a wire-to-wire victory over Detroit in their last meeting with one another almost a month ago in Florida. Detroit managed to turn the table on the Magic Tuesday night in blowout fashion.

Orlando kept things close early with Detroit in a back-and-forth opening period. Jameer Nelson helped get the game going for Orlando, scoring 6 quick points in the games first 8 minutes. Nelson would finish the night with just 11 points and 7 assists in 25 minutes of action.

For Detroit, the Pistons’ Center Andre Drummond got the scoring going early for them as he came out of the gates with loads of energy, scoring 8 of his 13 points in the first 6 minutes of action. Andre would finish the game with 13 points, 17 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 32 minutes. The Magic managed to keep the Detroit big men at bay in the first by ending the quarter on a high note as Victor Oladipo nailed a 20-foot jumper to end the first quarter for the Magic, giving them the lead after one in Detroit, 22-20.

However Detroit would answer in a flurry in the second quarter. Detroit managed to outscore Orlando by 12 points in the second period (33-21), behind the strong finish to the half by Josh Smith. Smith nailed what may be a record for him, 4 consecutive mid-range jumpers. Josh scored 10 of his 16 in the quarter to help Detroit take control of the game in the second quarter. The Pistons managed to run their first half lead up to 10 points before the halftime buzzer, Detroit led the Magic 51-41 at the break in former Piston big man, Jason Maxiell’s return to The Palace.

Jason finished the game with just 2 points, a block, and a rebound in just 14 minutes despite getting the start for Orlando with the absence of Magic Center Nikola Vucevic, whom has yet to recover from concussion like symptoms.

On to the second half, where for once, Detroit managed to hold on, and even extend their double-digit lead in the third and fourth quarters. Despite a scare to start the third, where the Magic cut the Piston lead down to just six, (59-53) halfway into the third, The Piston three-point shooters kept the Magic at bay.

Kyle Singler provided a much-needed boost of energy for Detroit in that third quarter as the Magic tried to mount a charge. Singler contributed 12 points and 4 rebounds towards the winning effort for the Pistons.

Along with Singler, Brandon Jennings managed to find his shooting stroke in the third and fourth quarters as his shooting struggles continued into the first half of Tuesday night’s contest with Orlando.

Detroit pushed their lead up to 18 at the end of the third, 78-60, to put the Pistons in the driver’s seat to finish off the Magic, which they eventually did.

Orlando would outscore Detroit in the fourth, 27-25, but it wasn’t close to enough to help bring them close in the fourth. The Pistons finished off the Magic, 103-87, to snap a 4-game losing streak and get a much-needed home victory.

Detroit now stands at (8-15) at home, and (18-27) on the year as they continue to hang around the last few playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. Detroit and New York are tied for the ninth spot in the East (Detroit owns tie-breaker), just a half game out of the eighth and final playoff spot held by none other than the Charlotte Bobcats (19-27).

The Pistons head back on the road to face another Eastern Conference opponent, the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night in Atlanta. The Hawks swept Detroit early in the year in their brief home-and-home series back in November. Without Al Horford, who was lost for the season with a pectoral injury, the Hawks have not missed a beat. They stand at (23-21), good for fourth in the East.

If Detroit wants to get back to their winning ways, they have a game they most win down in Atlanta to get back into a groove.