In the victory, Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 23 points and was one rebound shy of a double-double. Franz Wagner contributed 19 in 32 minutes, Wendell Carter Jr. added 17, and Desmond Bane finished with 17 points, six rebounds and five assists. Jalen Suggs added 16 as Orlando secured the win on the road.
The Magic had flirted with missing the postseason after losing in the NBA Play-In Tournament to Philadelphia, but they recovered by sweeping Charlotte to secure the final seed and advance to a first-round matchup with Detroit.
Despite the win, there was no overreach about the Magic’s potential beyond this series; Detroit earned the No. 1 seed with 60 wins, and Orlando will need to maintain a consistent level to challenge the Pistons in a seven-game set.
The series continues on Wednesday in Detroit, with Reese’s profile rising as she navigates training camp with the Dream after being traded in the off-season.
Reese’s social-media reaction to the upset underscored the cross-sport interest surrounding the Magic’s playoff push and the broader momentum surrounding her dual-basketball journey in the 2025-26 season.
