DETROIT (Michigan News Source) – It was the bench that came through for Detroit as they won their ninth game of the year, 121-101, holding off Orlando. A combined 76 points from the bench was enough for Detroit in the win breaking their six-game losing streak. Both Alec Burks 32 points and Saddiq Bey 28 points off the bench was the key of the 76 points scored as they combined for 60 points.  Bojan Bogdanovic added 14 points while Isaiah Stewart had 11 points. Jalen Duren grabbed 18 rebounds.

A first half fight led to three ejections in the game as Orlando’s Mortiz Wagner and Detroit’s Killian Hayes and Hamadou Diallo were all thrown out of the game. Wagner started the fight after a flagrant foul and Hayes and Diallo added to the list of ejections after their actions during the event.

Detroit had a 27-23 lead after the first quarter as Orlando made a move in the second quarter. The Magic took a 30-29 lead at the 9:49 mark but two and half minutes later Detroit was back up, 39-34, on a 10-4 run as Bey had a three-pointer to make it a five-point lead. By the 4:29 mark, Diallo had a dunk to extend the lead to nine, 49-40. Bey then added another three-pointer for a 12-point lead, 52-40, at 3:28. Diallo gave the Pistons a 16-point lead, 58-42, just under two minutes to play in the half before the brawl broke out.

With 50 seconds left in the half, Bogdanovic swooshed two free throws for a 19-point lead, 63-44. Just 17 seconds later, as a back court violation was going to take place for Orlando, the Magic’s Wagner hip-checked Hayes into the Pistons’ bench as he was going for the ball. That started the bench clearing brawl and three ejections. Both teams received free throws each making only one. Detroit ended the half as Burks canned two free throws for a 66-47 lead at the half.

Orlando outscored Detroit, 30-26, in the third quarter to come within 15 points, 92-77, but a strong fourth quarter by the Pistons gave them their ninth win of the year, 121-101.