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The Orlando Magic once again lost a close game to a mediocre team at home on Sunday as the Detroit Pistons hung on for a 104-102 victory. Brandon Knight hit crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter en route to a 31-point outing, and Orlando's multiple game-tying shots at the rim did not hit their mark.
| Team | Pace | Efficiency | eFG% | FT Rate | OReb% | TO Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistons | 91.1 | 114.1 | 57.6% | 16.5 | 17.5 | 13.2 |
| Magic | 91.1 | 111.9 | 50.0% | 13.3 | 37.5 | 16.5 |
| Green denotes a stat better than the team's 2012/13 average; red denotes a stat worse than the team's 2012/13 average. | ||||||
The story in Sunday's loss is the same as in many others during Orlando's difficult season: the Magic weren't able to take care of the ball or draw fouls. As a result, J.J. Redick's career-high-tying 31 points weren't enough to lift the Magic, who have lost their last nine games against sub-.500 teams.
Still, the Magic rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit. They ought to be commended for committing only four turnovers after intermission, and for dominating Detroit, 38-20, on points in the paint.
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