Magic 119, Pistons 112: Twitter reacts to the Magic defeating the Pistons

If the Orlando Magic end up getting, say, the sixth pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, just barely missing out on the likes of Cade Cunningham or Jalen Green, names such as Moritz Wagner and Chasson Randle and Ignas Brazdeikis will live in Magic lore.

As in: “Remember when Ignas Brazdeikis helped the Magic get a meaningless win over the Pistons and cost them Cade Cunningham?”

Doing so is a disservice to those three - who combined for 42 points in the Magic’s 119-112 victory in Detroit on Monday - and to the Magic’s core players who performed in a way we can only hope to see on a nightly basis in the near future. That being Mo Bamba, who, after a slow start, had career-highs of 22 points and 15 rebounds, and R.J. Hampton, who was three rebounds shy of a triple double with 16 points, a career-high 10 assists and 7 rebounds — nearly eclipsing the career-high 18 points he scored in Saturday’s win.

Seven players finished in double figures for a Magic team that shot 51.1 percent and won back-to-back games for the first time since April 1.

It’s two wins that a majority of Magic fans, myself included, didn’t ask for or want. But it was two wins that included a Cole Anthony game-winner, and career nights by Bamba and Hampton.

Hoping for losses at this stage of the season, and after the last decade of Orlando Magic basketball, is understandable. Even if it means only a minimal improvement in odds in the draft lottery. But getting angry over wins, especially when the Magic aren’t exactly rushing their injured veterans back into the lineup, is a waste of energy. It’s fair to ask the front office to pull the plug on the season, as they did. It’s unfair to ask the same of the players that coaches who still have to take the court each night, and who are fighting for future opportunities and paychecks.

The Magic bench (70 points) easily outscored their starting unit (49), led by Bamba, Hampton, Randle (a season-high 18 points), and Brazdeikis (14 points in his Magic debut). The bench unit combined to go 25-for-44 from the field (56.8 percent), and was on the court to close out what was a tight game alongside Wagner.

The win improves the Magic’s record to 21-44 as they fall a full game out of the league’s bottom three. They are now tied with the Thunder for the fourth worst record, and sit just a half game behind the Cavs with seven to play. Current positioning would mean an 11 percent chance for the Magic to land the top overall pick, whereas Houston, Detroit and Minnesota each have a 14 percent chance.

Here’s a mini “Twitter reacts....” story to see how Magic Twitter is handling the win.....