As the Detroit Pistons look to force a game 7 in their first-round series against the Orlando Magic, they need every advantage they can get. As they visit Orlando to face the Magic on their home floor, the Pistons can take solace that with a vital forward on each team’s respective injury report, Detroit’s is going to suit up tonight while Orlando’s remains out. Tobias Harris was questionable with an ankle sprain that he toughed out in Game 5, but his status for Game 6 was iffy. He will suit up in tonight’s
elimination game. Orlando, meanwhile, will be without forward Franz Wagner for the second consecutive game because of a right calf strain.
That doesn’t mean tonight’s game will be easy for Detroit. Far from it. If there is anything we’ve learned in this series it is that nothing is coming easy to either team. Still, the lack of Wagner should hypothetically open up the floor a bit for Cade Cunningham, who won’t have to worry about Wagner switching onto him. It should also help Harris, for however much he is able to go tonight, as the Magic don’t have a comparable player with his size, strength, and defensive fortitude to keep Harris off his favorite low block.
The Pistons will need more, though. They will need Cade Cunningham to have another stellar game. Cade scored 45, a Pistons playoff record, in Game 5, but it barely kept them ahead because the Magic’s Paolo Banchero matched him seemingly shot for shot. That included an insane shooting night from deep that Detroit will have to hope Wagner cannot repeat. They will also have to ensure that the 3-point shooting touch doesn’t simply migrate over to Desmond Bane, who can pop off for six or more threes relatively easily. Detroit will need to hit some threes of their own, whether they come from Cunningham, Harris, or somehow getting Duncan Robinson untracked a bit.
This has been a wild postseason in each conference, and it feels like anything can happen. Well, anything can happen tonight. I’m not sure if that instills more confidence or fear into me.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. ET
Where: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
Watch: Amazon Prime
Odds: Pistons -3.5
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (2-3)
Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Orlando Magic (3-2)
Jalen Suggs, Desmond Bane, Jamal Cain, Paolo Banchero, Wendell Carter Jr
