Both teams are in the rebuild stage, but with Victor Wembanyama and Scoot Henderson waiting in the 2023 draft, neither’s front office will be too bummed when their plethora of young players lose games and gain experience − and gather more ping pong balls. (The Pistons are set up for loads of cap space this summer too.)
We’ll see the debuts of several rookies, notably No. 1 overall pick Paolo Banchero for Orlando and No. 5 pick Jaden Ivey for the Pistons. Jalen Duren, the No. 13 pick and the league’s youngest player whom the Pistons see as a “jewel,” could see time at backup center.
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Cade Cunningham, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, begins his second season tasked with leading the Pistons’ turnaround. We’ll see how his new added bulk plays, but his preseason was oddly quiet. He’s not worried about it. And Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey each enter pivotal Year 3s − learn the symbol behind why Bey wears a green streak in his hair, and dive into the transformation of Stewart into a 3-point shooter.
Orlando returns second-year players Jalen Suggs (No. 5 pick) and Franz Wagner (No. 8 pick), the former Michigan standout who made All-Rookie First Team.
Both teams have some injuries already: The Pistons are missing Marvin Bagley III (knee), Isaiah Livers (hip) and Alec Burks (foot). Orlando is without Markelle Fultz (toe), Gary Harris (knee), Moritz Wagner (foot) and Jonathan Isaac (knee).
Orlando went 4-1 in preseason; Detroit was 0-4. … The Pistons visit New York on Friday, the first of three consecutive road games (at Indiana and Washington), to kick off a first-half schedule packed with tough tests. They return home next Wednesday for two straight vs. Atlanta.
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Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic in NBA season opener
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday.
Where: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: 97.1 FM (Pistons radio affiliates).
Betting line: Pistons by 3½.
• Box score
Follow all year: Indulge in Pistons coverage all season long here, led by our beat reporter Omari Sankofa II providing insight on the ground, along with our columnists.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons game score vs. Orlando Magic: Live updates