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Deadspin | Pistons look to carry momentum into Game 3 vs. Magic Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) is defended by Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) in the second half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The Detroit Pistons almost were unrecognizable for the first six quarters of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic, but that all changed in the span of about eight minutes. The top-seeded Pistons appear to have finally settled in as they head into Game 3 against the eighth-seeded Magic on Saturday in Orlando, Fla. After losing its playoff opener 112-101, Detroit evened the best-of-seven Eastern Conference clash with an impressive 98-83 win on Wednesday. Cade Cunningham had 27 points, 11 assists and six rebounds to lead Detroit, which was tied at the half before opening the third quarter on a 30-3 run over a span of eight minutes. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff provided some well-timed advice at halftime to help the Pistons snap an 11-game home playoff losing streak. “(Bickerstaff) really got on us in the locker room,” Detroit forward Tobias Harris said. “(His message was) there is no more of ‘my bads.’ It’s like they’re out there hustling, getting offensive boards on us. And there’s too many of them for us (to allow) as a group. We know that’s not our standard. So he was on us. We were able to find that little spark.” Harris scored 16 points in the victory, while Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson had 11 apiece. After being outplayed in nearly every category in Game 1, Detroit started to look more like the East’s top team on Wednesday. The Pistons held Orlando to 32.5% shooting from the field and 25% (8 of 32) from 3-point range in the victory. “This is a good team we’re playing against,” Bickerstaff said. “If that team is healthy most of the season, they’re not an eighth-seeded team. They’re a very talented, very good basketball team. We’ve got a ton of respect for that team and they’re well-coached. But if we play Pistons basketball, we feel like we can beat anybody.” The series now shifts to Orlando’s Kia Center, where the Magic are 6-1 in their last seven postseason games, including play-in tournament games. Orlando is looking to bounce back after being held to a season low in points on Wednesday. Jalen Suggs scored 19 points and Paolo Banchero added 18 for the Magic, who were outscored 54-34 in the paint. “You have to give them credit,” Banchero said. “I thought we had some good looks in the first half. They met us at the rim a few times. They brought the intensity on defense. We got good looks and nobody really had a great night shooting the ball. Not a game you’d expect to win looking at the stat sheet, but I would say it’s nothing that’s discouraging.” Forward Franz Wagner said the Magic can lean on their experience as the series heads into the pivotal Game 3. “The playoffs are way different, and it definitely helps to have been there before and just kind of know how the flow of a series goes,” Wagner said. “It’s still early in the series. Also, (we know) that margins will decide these games. That’s the beauty of the playoffs and that’s why it’s important to play every possession really well.” Orlando will need more production from guard Desmond Bane, who is averaging 14.5 points on 29% shooting in the first two games of the series. Bane also is shooting 20% (3 of 15) from 3-point range. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Pistons #carry #momentum #Game #Magic

Deadspin | Pistons look to carry momentum into Game 3 vs. Magic
Deadspin | Pistons look to carry momentum into Game 3 vs. Magic Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) is defended by Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) in the second half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images The Detroit Pistons almost were unrecognizable for the first six quarters of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic, but that all changed in the span of about eight minutes. The top-seeded Pistons appear to have finally settled in as they head into Game 3 against the eighth-seeded Magic on Saturday in Orlando, Fla. After losing its playoff opener 112-101, Detroit evened the best-of-seven Eastern Conference clash with an impressive 98-83 win on Wednesday. Cade Cunningham had 27 points, 11 assists and six rebounds to lead Detroit, which was tied at the half before opening the third quarter on a 30-3 run over a span of eight minutes. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff provided some well-timed advice at halftime to help the Pistons snap an 11-game home playoff losing streak. “(Bickerstaff) really got on us in the locker room,” Detroit forward Tobias Harris said. “(His message was) there is no more of ‘my bads.’ It’s like they’re out there hustling, getting offensive boards on us. And there’s too many of them for us (to allow) as a group. We know that’s not our standard. So he was on us. We were able to find that little spark.” Harris scored 16 points in the victory, while Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson had 11 apiece. After being outplayed in nearly every category in Game 1, Detroit started to look more like the East’s top team on Wednesday. The Pistons held Orlando to 32.5% shooting from the field and 25% (8 of 32) from 3-point range in the victory. “This is a good team we’re playing against,” Bickerstaff said. “If that team is healthy most of the season, they’re not an eighth-seeded team. They’re a very talented, very good basketball team. We’ve got a ton of respect for that team and they’re well-coached. But if we play Pistons basketball, we feel like we can beat anybody.” The series now shifts to Orlando’s Kia Center, where the Magic are 6-1 in their last seven postseason games, including play-in tournament games. Orlando is looking to bounce back after being held to a season low in points on Wednesday. Jalen Suggs scored 19 points and Paolo Banchero added 18 for the Magic, who were outscored 54-34 in the paint. “You have to give them credit,” Banchero said. “I thought we had some good looks in the first half. They met us at the rim a few times. They brought the intensity on defense. We got good looks and nobody really had a great night shooting the ball. Not a game you’d expect to win looking at the stat sheet, but I would say it’s nothing that’s discouraging.” Forward Franz Wagner said the Magic can lean on their experience as the series heads into the pivotal Game 3. “The playoffs are way different, and it definitely helps to have been there before and just kind of know how the flow of a series goes,” Wagner said. “It’s still early in the series. Also, (we know) that margins will decide these games. That’s the beauty of the playoffs and that’s why it’s important to play every possession really well.” Orlando will need more production from guard Desmond Bane, who is averaging 14.5 points on 29% shooting in the first two games of the series. Bane also is shooting 20% (3 of 15) from 3-point range. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Pistons #carry #momentum #Game #MagicApr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) is defended by Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) in the second half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Detroit Pistons almost were unrecognizable for the first six quarters of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic, but that all changed in the span of about eight minutes.

The top-seeded Pistons appear to have finally settled in as they head into Game 3 against the eighth-seeded Magic on Saturday in Orlando, Fla.

After losing its playoff opener 112-101, Detroit evened the best-of-seven Eastern Conference clash with an impressive 98-83 win on Wednesday.

Cade Cunningham had 27 points, 11 assists and six rebounds to lead Detroit, which was tied at the half before opening the third quarter on a 30-3 run over a span of eight minutes.

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff provided some well-timed advice at halftime to help the Pistons snap an 11-game home playoff losing streak.

“(Bickerstaff) really got on us in the locker room,” Detroit forward Tobias Harris said. “(His message was) there is no more of ‘my bads.’ It’s like they’re out there hustling, getting offensive boards on us. And there’s too many of them for us (to allow) as a group. We know that’s not our standard. So he was on us. We were able to find that little spark.”

Harris scored 16 points in the victory, while Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson had 11 apiece.


After being outplayed in nearly every category in Game 1, Detroit started to look more like the East’s top team on Wednesday. The Pistons held Orlando to 32.5% shooting from the field and 25% (8 of 32) from 3-point range in the victory.

“This is a good team we’re playing against,” Bickerstaff said. “If that team is healthy most of the season, they’re not an eighth-seeded team. They’re a very talented, very good basketball team. We’ve got a ton of respect for that team and they’re well-coached. But if we play Pistons basketball, we feel like we can beat anybody.”

The series now shifts to Orlando’s Kia Center, where the Magic are 6-1 in their last seven postseason games, including play-in tournament games.

Orlando is looking to bounce back after being held to a season low in points on Wednesday. Jalen Suggs scored 19 points and Paolo Banchero added 18 for the Magic, who were outscored 54-34 in the paint.

“You have to give them credit,” Banchero said. “I thought we had some good looks in the first half. They met us at the rim a few times. They brought the intensity on defense. We got good looks and nobody really had a great night shooting the ball. Not a game you’d expect to win looking at the stat sheet, but I would say it’s nothing that’s discouraging.”

Forward Franz Wagner said the Magic can lean on their experience as the series heads into the pivotal Game 3.

“The playoffs are way different, and it definitely helps to have been there before and just kind of know how the flow of a series goes,” Wagner said. “It’s still early in the series. Also, (we know) that margins will decide these games. That’s the beauty of the playoffs and that’s why it’s important to play every possession really well.”

Orlando will need more production from guard Desmond Bane, who is averaging 14.5 points on 29% shooting in the first two games of the series. Bane also is shooting 20% (3 of 15) from 3-point range.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Pistons #carry #momentum #Game #Magic

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Apr 22, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) is defended by Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) in the second half during game two of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The Detroit Pistons almost were unrecognizable for the first six quarters of their first-round series against the Orlando Magic, but that all changed in the span of about eight minutes.

The top-seeded Pistons appear to have finally settled in as they head into Game 3 against the eighth-seeded Magic on Saturday in Orlando, Fla.

After losing its playoff opener 112-101, Detroit evened the best-of-seven Eastern Conference clash with an impressive 98-83 win on Wednesday.

Cade Cunningham had 27 points, 11 assists and six rebounds to lead Detroit, which was tied at the half before opening the third quarter on a 30-3 run over a span of eight minutes.

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff provided some well-timed advice at halftime to help the Pistons snap an 11-game home playoff losing streak.

“(Bickerstaff) really got on us in the locker room,” Detroit forward Tobias Harris said. “(His message was) there is no more of ‘my bads.’ It’s like they’re out there hustling, getting offensive boards on us. And there’s too many of them for us (to allow) as a group. We know that’s not our standard. So he was on us. We were able to find that little spark.”

Harris scored 16 points in the victory, while Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson had 11 apiece.

After being outplayed in nearly every category in Game 1, Detroit started to look more like the East’s top team on Wednesday. The Pistons held Orlando to 32.5% shooting from the field and 25% (8 of 32) from 3-point range in the victory.

“This is a good team we’re playing against,” Bickerstaff said. “If that team is healthy most of the season, they’re not an eighth-seeded team. They’re a very talented, very good basketball team. We’ve got a ton of respect for that team and they’re well-coached. But if we play Pistons basketball, we feel like we can beat anybody.”

The series now shifts to Orlando’s Kia Center, where the Magic are 6-1 in their last seven postseason games, including play-in tournament games.

Orlando is looking to bounce back after being held to a season low in points on Wednesday. Jalen Suggs scored 19 points and Paolo Banchero added 18 for the Magic, who were outscored 54-34 in the paint.

“You have to give them credit,” Banchero said. “I thought we had some good looks in the first half. They met us at the rim a few times. They brought the intensity on defense. We got good looks and nobody really had a great night shooting the ball. Not a game you’d expect to win looking at the stat sheet, but I would say it’s nothing that’s discouraging.”

Forward Franz Wagner said the Magic can lean on their experience as the series heads into the pivotal Game 3.

“The playoffs are way different, and it definitely helps to have been there before and just kind of know how the flow of a series goes,” Wagner said. “It’s still early in the series. Also, (we know) that margins will decide these games. That’s the beauty of the playoffs and that’s why it’s important to play every possession really well.”

Orlando will need more production from guard Desmond Bane, who is averaging 14.5 points on 29% shooting in the first two games of the series. Bane also is shooting 20% (3 of 15) from 3-point range.

–Field Level Media

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In episode three of this series, I began a two-part exploration of the encounter between Toronto’s George Bell and Boston’s Bruce Kison on June 23rd, 1985. Having visited Kison side of things, we will now consider the life and times of George Bell.

In the late 1970s scouts all around major league baseball began descending upon the Dominican Republic, which had suddenly been identified as highly lucrative territory. The DR was home to countless talented young ball players and those ball players due to the country’s dire economic conditions were highly exploitable.

With the unemployment rate around 40% teams realized they could sign players for a lot less than American prospects asked for. And if those Dominican players did happen to get signed by a major league team, they were sent to the states socially isolated by the language barrier and dependent upon agents who were often crooked and looking to swindle ‘em all over again.

A cruel irony recalled by George Bell, one of those young Dominican players, was that while navigating this labyrinth of shameless exploitation, he was the one looked at with suspicion. American players found any reason they could to dislike him. His English wasn’t polished enough, he was too this, not enough that, didn’t play the game the right way.

In 1982, while playing for minor league Syracuse, Bell stepped in against Lynn McGlothen, an 11 year Major League vet pitching in AAA ball in the hopes of one last call up. In a game years earlier while pitching for the Cardinals, McGlothen beamed one New York Mets batter then brushed back another three innings later, then hit that batter too. The intent was so transparently clear that the Mets Dave Kingman charged the mound straight from the dugout.

McGlothen did not hesitate to throw at a batter if he had the inclination and he seemed to resent George Bell for the same superficial reasons everybody else did. Bell was a hotdogger. It was decided. McGlothen drilled him in the face, fracturing his cheek and jawbones. While his teammates stormed the field to exact revenge, Bell arrived on the ground certain that his career in baseball, his one chance at a better life was over.

“He’s dead,” Bell thought of McGlothen, not because Bell would kill him or because his teammates would, but because fate would one day catch up with him.

Two years later, McGlothen lost his life in a fire. His friend was also killed with everyone else escaping the home. Bell who’d fully recovered and made his way to the majors, addressed the tragedy sometime after seemingly unprompted. He expressed his sympathies for the friends and loved ones of those who died then said in McGlothen’s fate, “People like that decide it. They have a bad heart. No way they can stay alive.”

You might find those words to be callous, even cruel. I mean I do. Then again, I doubt either of us have persevered through the circumstances Bell did only for somebody to break his face and potentially ruin his life just for playing baseball with a little bit too much swagger.

Baseball was George Bell’s one and only chance at a better life, the sort of life we’d wish for anybody, and he was fiercely, sometimes even violently protective of that chance.

#HISTORY #CHARGING #MOUND #EPISODE #GEORGE #BELL">THE HISTORY OF CHARGING THE MOUND, EPISODE 4: GEORGE BELL In episode three of this series, I began a two-part exploration of the encounter between Toronto’s George Bell and Boston’s Bruce Kison on June 23rd, 1985. Having visited Kison side of things, we will now consider the life and times of George Bell.In the late 1970s scouts all around major league baseball began descending upon the Dominican Republic, which had suddenly been identified as highly lucrative territory. The DR was home to countless talented young ball players and those ball players due to the country’s dire economic conditions were highly exploitable.With the unemployment rate around 40% teams realized they could sign players for a lot less than American prospects asked for. And if those Dominican players did happen to get signed by a major league team, they were sent to the states socially isolated by the language barrier and dependent upon agents who were often crooked and looking to swindle ‘em all over again.A cruel irony recalled by George Bell, one of those young Dominican players, was that while navigating this labyrinth of shameless exploitation, he was the one looked at with suspicion. American players found any reason they could to dislike him. His English wasn’t polished enough, he was too this, not enough that, didn’t play the game the right way.In 1982, while playing for minor league Syracuse, Bell stepped in against Lynn McGlothen, an 11 year Major League vet pitching in AAA ball in the hopes of one last call up. In a game years earlier while pitching for the Cardinals, McGlothen beamed one New York Mets batter then brushed back another three innings later, then hit that batter too. The intent was so transparently clear that the Mets Dave Kingman charged the mound straight from the dugout.McGlothen did not hesitate to throw at a batter if he had the inclination and he seemed to resent George Bell for the same superficial reasons everybody else did. Bell was a hotdogger. It was decided. McGlothen drilled him in the face, fracturing his cheek and jawbones. While his teammates stormed the field to exact revenge, Bell arrived on the ground certain that his career in baseball, his one chance at a better life was over.“He’s dead,” Bell thought of McGlothen, not because Bell would kill him or because his teammates would, but because fate would one day catch up with him.Two years later, McGlothen lost his life in a fire. His friend was also killed with everyone else escaping the home. Bell who’d fully recovered and made his way to the majors, addressed the tragedy sometime after seemingly unprompted. He expressed his sympathies for the friends and loved ones of those who died then said in McGlothen’s fate, “People like that decide it. They have a bad heart. No way they can stay alive.”You might find those words to be callous, even cruel. I mean I do. Then again, I doubt either of us have persevered through the circumstances Bell did only for somebody to break his face and potentially ruin his life just for playing baseball with a little bit too much swagger.Baseball was George Bell’s one and only chance at a better life, the sort of life we’d wish for anybody, and he was fiercely, sometimes even violently protective of that chance. #HISTORY #CHARGING #MOUND #EPISODE #GEORGE #BELL

Deadspin | Natus Vincere, GamerLegion eke into IEM Atlanta semifinals Jul 21, 2019; Miami Beach, FL, USA; A general view of gaming controllers on display during the Call of Duty League Finals e-sports event at Miami Beach Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images Natus Vincere and GamerLegion pulled off come-from-behind wins on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta event. Natus Vincere overtook Team Vitality 2-1, advancing to a semifinal matchup with BetBoom Team. GamerLegion charged past paiN Gaming 2-1, earning a spot opposite Legacy in the semifinals. The 0,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive event began with 16 teams divided into two groups for the double-elimination opening round. The top six teams reached the single-elimination playoffs. All matches are best-of-three until the best-of-five grand final on Sunday. The winning side will receive 5,000. On Friday, Team Vitality logged a 13-11 win on Dust II before Natus Vincere captured Anubis 13-11. On the decisive third map, Inferno, Natus Vincere rolled to a 13-3 victory. Ukraine’s Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov totaled 59 kills and a plus-31 kill-death differential for Natus Vincere. France’s Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut posted 39 kills and a plus-19 K-D differential for Team Vitality. paiN Gaming earned a 13-6 victory on Overpass, but GamerLegion stormed back to take Nuke 13-6 and Inferno 13-8. The Czech Republic’s Oldrich “PR” Novy posted 47 kills and a plus-10 K-D differential for GamerLegion. Guilherme “piriajr” Barbosa led all-Brazilian paiN Gaming with 57 kills and a plus-18 K-D differential. Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta prize pool 1. 5,000 2. ,000 3. ,000 4. ,000 5-6. ,500 — Team Vitality, paiN Gaming 7-8. ,000 — B8, Astralis 9-12. ,000 — FUT Esports, FaZe Clan, SINNERS Esports, Team Liquid 13-16. ,000 — BC.Game Esports, NRG, Passion UA, M80 –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Natus #Vincere #GamerLegion #eke #IEM #Atlanta #semifinalsJul 21, 2019; Miami Beach, FL, USA; A general view of gaming controllers on display during the Call of Duty League Finals e-sports event at Miami Beach Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Natus Vincere and GamerLegion pulled off come-from-behind wins on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta event.

Natus Vincere overtook Team Vitality 2-1, advancing to a semifinal matchup with BetBoom Team. GamerLegion charged past paiN Gaming 2-1, earning a spot opposite Legacy in the semifinals.

The $300,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive event began with 16 teams divided into two groups for the double-elimination opening round. The top six teams reached the single-elimination playoffs.

All matches are best-of-three until the best-of-five grand final on Sunday. The winning side will receive $125,000.

On Friday, Team Vitality logged a 13-11 win on Dust II before Natus Vincere captured Anubis 13-11. On the decisive third map, Inferno, Natus Vincere rolled to a 13-3 victory.

Ukraine’s Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov totaled 59 kills and a plus-31 kill-death differential for Natus Vincere. France’s Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut posted 39 kills and a plus-19 K-D differential for Team Vitality.

paiN Gaming earned a 13-6 victory on Overpass, but GamerLegion stormed back to take Nuke 13-6 and Inferno 13-8. The Czech Republic’s Oldrich “PR” Novy posted 47 kills and a plus-10 K-D differential for GamerLegion. Guilherme “piriajr” Barbosa led all-Brazilian paiN Gaming with 57 kills and a plus-18 K-D differential.

Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta prize pool


1. $125,000

2. $50,000

3. $30,000

4. $20,000

5-6. $12,500 — Team Vitality, paiN Gaming

7-8. $7,000 — B8, Astralis

9-12. $5,000 — FUT Esports, FaZe Clan, SINNERS Esports, Team Liquid

13-16. $4,000 — BC.Game Esports, NRG, Passion UA, M80

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Natus #Vincere #GamerLegion #eke #IEM #Atlanta #semifinals">Deadspin | Natus Vincere, GamerLegion eke into IEM Atlanta semifinals Jul 21, 2019; Miami Beach, FL, USA; A general view of gaming controllers on display during the Call of Duty League Finals e-sports event at Miami Beach Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images Natus Vincere and GamerLegion pulled off come-from-behind wins on Friday in the quarterfinals of the Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta event. Natus Vincere overtook Team Vitality 2-1, advancing to a semifinal matchup with BetBoom Team. GamerLegion charged past paiN Gaming 2-1, earning a spot opposite Legacy in the semifinals. The 0,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive event began with 16 teams divided into two groups for the double-elimination opening round. The top six teams reached the single-elimination playoffs. All matches are best-of-three until the best-of-five grand final on Sunday. The winning side will receive 5,000. On Friday, Team Vitality logged a 13-11 win on Dust II before Natus Vincere captured Anubis 13-11. On the decisive third map, Inferno, Natus Vincere rolled to a 13-3 victory. Ukraine’s Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov totaled 59 kills and a plus-31 kill-death differential for Natus Vincere. France’s Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut posted 39 kills and a plus-19 K-D differential for Team Vitality. paiN Gaming earned a 13-6 victory on Overpass, but GamerLegion stormed back to take Nuke 13-6 and Inferno 13-8. The Czech Republic’s Oldrich “PR” Novy posted 47 kills and a plus-10 K-D differential for GamerLegion. Guilherme “piriajr” Barbosa led all-Brazilian paiN Gaming with 57 kills and a plus-18 K-D differential. Intel Extreme Masters Atlanta prize pool 1. 5,000 2. ,000 3. ,000 4. ,000 5-6. ,500 — Team Vitality, paiN Gaming 7-8. ,000 — B8, Astralis 9-12. ,000 — FUT Esports, FaZe Clan, SINNERS Esports, Team Liquid 13-16. ,000 — BC.Game Esports, NRG, Passion UA, M80 –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Natus #Vincere #GamerLegion #eke #IEM #Atlanta #semifinals

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