ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Saddiq Bey hit a career-high 51 points and the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 134-120 on Thursday night to close out a four-game losing streak.
Bey broke the franchise record with 10 3-pointers and 14 attempts. He was 17 for 27 overall.
Two nights after being burned for 16 points in the first quarter by Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving on his way to a 60-point game, the Magic gave up 21 points in the first quarter to Bey.
“I saw the highlights and it was just very efficient. It was in the flow of the game,” Bey said. “It was a great performance to watch, and I just think in the NBA there have been a lot of great performances in the last two weeks. I’m just grateful to have the opportunity in this league.
Marvin Bagley III added 20 points and 11 rebounds for Detroit in the matchup of the bottom two teams in the Eastern Conference. Franz Wagner led Orlando with 26 points.
“Building is always ugly,” Detroit coach Dwane Casey said, “but there are a lot of great moments like tonight.”
Bey finished the first half spectacularly, scoring five points in less than five seconds. He hit a 20-footer while falling out of bounds with 8.8 seconds, stole with a backhand and made a 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left, leaving the Pistons 73-62 ahead.
“He had 30 points at the half so we definitely expected 50,” said Pistons center Isaiah Stewart, who had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The Magic scored the first nine points of the game, but the lead was quickly erased by Bey. The Pistons advanced to keep a dunk from Stewart, who broke a 50-50 tie midway through the second quarter.
“I think it was just the flow of the game,” Bey said. “I did not come into the game and say this is what I will do, but you catch a rhythm and you are in a zone. My teammates did a great job of finding me and just encouraging me to stay aggressive.
The Pistons shot 50 percent and their 134 points were also one season high.
“(Bey) went early and he hit some really hard shots, but we have to do a better job – I have to do a better job – to not let him do what he wants,” said Wagner. shot and we knew before the game that we did not want him to shoot 3s. “
TIP-INS
Pistons: G Cade Cunningham missed his second straight game due to a non-COVID illness. . . . F Jerami Grant was suspended from the game due to right knee inflammation. . . . Every 10 Pistons who played had at least one assist, and Bey had four of the 34 … . . Detroit won the season 3-1.
Magic: Cole Anthony missed his first 10 shots. . . . The F Wendell Carter Jr. . . . G Jalen Suggs missed his fourth game with a broken right ankle. . . . F Chuma Okeke missed his first game since January 3 with a left knee contusion.
OP Next:
Pistons: Pa Cleveland Saturday night.
Magic: Host Oklahoma City Sunday night.
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