Detroit Oct 31 (BUS): Jeremy Grant scored 22 points, No. 1 Kid Cunningham added seven rebounds on his NBA debut, and the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 110-103 on Saturday to claim their first win of the season.
Cunningham missed pre-season and the first four games of the regular season due to a sprained ankle, The Associated Press reports.
Kelly Olynyk scored 18 with Detroit, while Sadiq Bey and Josh Jackson each scored 13.
Brothers Franz (19 points) and Moritz Wagner (13) combined for 32 magic points (1-6), including seven three-pointers. Cole Anthony scored 15 points and 10 rebounds.
Cunningham struggled off the ground in the first half of his debut, going 1 for 7 and missing all four of his 3-point attempts. However, he had seven rebounds and two assists in 14 minutes of play. He missed his only shot while playing for five minutes in the second half.
Detroit led 48-47 in the first inning, but Orlando led most of the third quarter thanks to 20 points from the Wagner brothers. Grant kept the Pistons close by nine points in the period before Olenik added a 10 with the second unit.
The Pistons used a 15-0 lead to 82-70 ahead of the Mortiz Wagner 3 pointer to pull the magic in within nine at the end of the quarter.
Detroit scored the first six from the fourth, expanding its lead to 88-73, never threatening Orlando.
Hint INS
Magic: The Wagner brothers both came to nearby Michigan, as did Ignas Brazdeikis, while Gary Harris went to Michigan. Harris almost certainly enjoyed Saturday afternoon more than his teammates, as the Spartans beat Michigan 37-33 in East Lansing.
Pistons: Cunningham’s NBA debut came on the 40th anniversary of Isiah Thomas’ first game for the franchise. …the Pistons earned 56 points from the bench.
the following
Magic: Visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Mondays.
Pistons: Visit the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.