The Detroit Pistons will host the Orlando Magic on Sunday evening in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series, a matchup pitting the conference's dominant top seed against a scrappy eighth-place squad that split the regular-season series 2-2.
Detroit enters the postseason riding a wave of momentum after finishing 60-22, the best record in the East. The Pistons have been especially formidable at home and rank as the conference's top team in points in the paint, led by center Jalen Duren, who averaged 19.5 points on 65 percent shooting during the regular season. Duren is listed as day-to-day with a knee issue, however, adding a note of uncertainty to an otherwise dominant roster.
Orlando, meanwhile, finished 45-37 and closed the regular season strong, going 7-3 in its final 10 games. Paolo Banchero has been the engine of the Magic's attack, averaging 22.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. He capped the regular season by dropping 31 points in a 123-107 win over Detroit on April 6.
The Pistons are installed as 8.5-point favorites, according to the Associated Press preview. Despite the lopsided line, the even regular-season split between the two teams suggests Orlando could make this a more competitive series than the seedings imply. Game 1 tips off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
