Detroit — Midway through the first quarter, Goga Bitadze held the ball and attempted to establish a triple-threat position, but he struggled because of the intense defensive pressure from Isaiah Stewart. As a result, Bitadze switched his pivot foot.
The fans inside Little Caesars Arena erupted in cheers as Stewart celebrated the defensive play, screaming as he ran back to the offensive end. This defensive stop, combined with the passion and celebration, was a glimpse of the intensity the Detroit Pistons displayed at the start of Game 2.
They maintained their energy, effort and passion throughout the night, leading to a 98-83 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night. The Pistons not only tied their first-round series at 1-1 but also ended an 11-game home playoff losing streak, which was the worst in the league.
Every player who stepped onto the court for the Pistons displayed the same emotion as Stewart. One of the standout moments occurred at the 7:21 mark of the third quarter when Duncan Robinson (10 points) hit his second 3-point field goal of the night. The basket contributed to an impressive 18-3 run that the Pistons initiated at the start of the third period.
Robinson's shot prompted Magic coach Jamahl Mosley to call a timeout while the Pistons celebrated on their way to the huddle. His triple was merely a glimpse of the Pistons' dominance during the quarter.
Detroit would go on to outscore Orlando 38-16 during the period. The Pistons shot 14 of 23 from the field and 3 of 6 from three-point range. Defensively, Detroit held the Magic to 29.4% shooting from the field and 25.0% from beyond the arc, while also forcing six turnovers. They originally opened the quarter on a 30-2 run.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with a team-high 27 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds. Unlike in Game 1, the All-Star guard received plenty of support. Five players scored in double figures, which included Jalen Duren, who finished with 11 points and nine rebounds.
Ausar Thompson battled through foul trouble to add 11 points, eight rebounds, two steals and a block. Tobias Harris notched a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Detroit's bench unit also contributed to the Pistons' bounce-back performance by adding 23 points. Stewart led the way with 10 points, five rebounds and a block.
Jalen Suggs led Orlando with 19 points. Paolo Banchero finished with 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Pistons bounce back with decisive win over Magic, series tied 1-1