When the Rim Shrinks: Orlando's Historic Scoring Drought
The Orlando Magic were 24 minutes away from the biggest upset of the decade. Leading the Detroit Pistons by 24 points in the third quarter of Game 6, the Magic looked destined for the second round. Then, the rim seemingly disappeared.
Orlando went on to miss 23 consecutive field goals, a drought that spanned nearly 14 minutes of game time.
A Statistical Anomaly
In the play-by-play era, we have rarely seen a collapse this thorough. The Magic's offense, spearheaded by Paolo Banchero, went completely ice-cold as the Pistons' defense increased their pressure. Orlando scored a playoff-record low for points in a half, allowing Detroit to mount a 24-point comeback and eventually win the game.
"We just couldn't buy a bucket," a dejected Banchero said. "Every shot felt good, but nothing was falling. It's a tough way to lose a series lead."
The Psychological Toll
The drought didn't just cost them Game 6; it seemed to shatter the young Magic's confidence heading into Game 7. While Orlando has a bright future, this "23-shot nightmare" will serve as a painful lesson in the importance of offensive variety when the jump shots stop falling.