By John Denton Jan. 28, 2014
AUBURN HILLS, Mich – Simple mathematics played a major role in the Orlando Magic’s latest loss in suburban Detroit on Tuesday night.
When the Magic gave up 17 offensive boards, got outrebounded 56-40 and turned the ball over 16 times, the Detroit Pistons were able to get off nine more shot attempts (and 14 in the first three quarters) than an Orlando team that was as cold as the sub-zero temperatures outside.
The Magic and the Pistons shot roughly the same percentages from the floor and missed about the same number of free throws, but the extra chances provided by Detroit’s work on the offensive glass gave it the advantage in another frustrating night for Orlando.
The undersized Magic went into Tuesday knowing that they had to keep the Pistons off the glass, but they were unable to do so throughout a 103-87 defeat to a Detroit team that was desperate for a victory.
``(The extra shots) are exactly what it was,’’ Magic guard Arron Afflalo said. ``I thought our initial defense was solid – I wouldn’t say it was great – but we just have to do a better job of transition defense. And a big part of tonight was the offensive rebounding.’’
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