DETROIT (AP) — On a night full of ups and downs, Jaden Ivey suffered a concerning leg injury after an impressive performance, scoring 22 points in the Detroit Pistons’ 105-96 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night.
With just over ten minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, and the Pistons leading 84-79, a struggle for the ball saw Ivey collide with Orlando’s Cole Anthony, who lost his balance and fell awkwardly on Ivey’s leg, anchored to the ground. The promising 22-year-old was immediately put on the ground, holding his left leg in visible distress.
Play was suspended for an extended period while medical staff tended to Ivey, who was then carried off the field on a stretcher, causing a wave of concern in the crowd.
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Before the injury, the Magic had opened the quarter with four straight points, but Tim Hardaway Jr. quickly responded, scoring nine points in a span of 6:30 to extend the Pistons’ advantage to 99-90.
Cade Cunningham also showed a good level of play with 19 points and nine assists, helping the Pistons secure their fourth victory in five games. Jalen Duren also scored with 18 points and 11 rebounds, helping Detroit overcome an incredible 24 turnovers in the game.
For the Magic, Jalen Suggs led the scoring with 24 points, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 21. However, Orlando continues to struggle, having lost six of its last nine games.
Pistons guard Malik Beasley (5) distributed the ball well during the first half of the game at Little Caesars Arena. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Interestingly, the Magic have five players on their roster with Michigan ties, but they missed the extended absence of two former Wolverines: Franz Wagner (oblique) and Moritz Wagner (knee). Other Michigan alumni include Caleb Houston and Jett Howard, with Gary Harris representing Michigan State.
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Meanwhile, Cade Cunningham, still recovering from a knee injury, seemed less aggressive under the boards, only managing to grab two rebounds in the first half. However, he showed no apparent limitations during his powerful drives to the basket.
The Pistons appeared to be headed for an easy victory, leading 73-55 with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. Still, the Magic mounted an enthusiastic comeback with a score of 20-7, narrowing the gap to 80-75.
Despite Detroit’s eight turnovers in eight minutes allowing Orlando to close the lead, the Pistons regrouped to finish the quarter with a four-point run, increasing their lead to nine.
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Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had a remarkable first half, scoring 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including three three-pointers, while his teammates struggled with a combined 13-of-39 shooting and an abysmal 0-of-10 behind the bow.
Both teams will quickly turn their attention to their next games on Friday, with Orlando heading to Toronto and Detroit preparing to host Charlotte.
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Teammates gathered around Detroit Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) after the disturbing incident in the second half. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Cade Cunningham (2) demonstrated his dribbling skills against Orlando Magic power forward Tristan da Silva (23) in the first half. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart (28) battled against Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr. (34) in the first half. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Orlando’s Caleb Houstan (2) looked to make a play while under pressure from Detroit’s Ausar Thompson (9) during the early portions of the game. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Jalen Duren (0) fought for a loose ball, showing his determination in the first half against the Magic. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley was animated on the sidelines, signaling his strategies throughout the contest. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
In a highlight, Ausar Thompson (9) of the Pistons took off for a dunk while being contested by Jalen Suggs (4) of the Magic. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
