How historically bad is Paolo Banchero, Magic's Game 6 collapse vs. Pistons
· Yahoo Sports
How historically bad is Paolo Banchero, Magic's Game 6 collapse vs. Pistons originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
History is not the most kind to those who lose. The Orlando Magic have to face that reality. Paolo Banchero had two chances to eliminate the top-seeded Detroit Pistons after they led the series 3-1. Two games later, they consecutively lost to Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson while also breaking a new record. Unfortunately, they are on the wrong side of NBA Playoffs history in all of the feats in Game 6.
Visit afrikasportnews.co.za for more information.
How historically bad is Banchero, Magic's Game 6 collapse to Pistons
For starters, no other team in NBA Playoffs history has scored less in a half than the Magic in Game 6. Paolo Banchero could only help his squad muster up 19 points against the Pistons. Not to mention, the Magic were limited to a horrid eight points in the fourth quarter. They made one of 20 field goal attempts and could not knock down a single three-pointer in that period too. For comparison, Cade Cunningham scored 19 points which would have solely been enough to put this NBA Playoffs Game 6 to rest.
The Pistons defense limiting the Magic to 19 points in the second half? Yes, that statistic. It is the lowest scoring half by any team in NBA Playoffs history. The Magic missing those 23 field goals consecutively had a gap of 45 minutes of televised time from one basket to another. Those misses were also the most by any team in the postseason in the 21st century, per ESPN Insights.
While Cunningham outscored the Magic single-handedly, there are a bunch of players in or were in the NBA who could have been them if they scored on their own. See, the Pistons limited the Magic to only 79 points. Wilt Chamberlain with his 100 points in 1962, Bam Adebayo who just got 83 points against the Washington Wizards, and Kobe Bryant facing the Toronto Raptors in 2006 would all have beaten this Magic team on total points.
To add insult to injury, this collapse by the Magic propelled Cunningham and Ausar Thompson to insane statistical heights. Cunningham now has an NBA Playoffs average of 32.5 points which means that the Pistons star now leads all scorers in the postseason. Thompson also got four blocks and a steal. This moves him as the postseason leader in combined steals and blocks.