New: Magic president Jeff Weltman said the organization will begin its search for a new head coach immediately after dismissing Jamahl Mosley on Monday 👇 therookiewire.usatoday.com/story/sports...

Magic president Jeff Weltman reiterated today that the team knows it will be in the luxury tax next year and is prepared to be a tax team.

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, a close friend of Jamahl Mosley, addressed the firing of the former Magic coach with Stephen A. Smith today on SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio:

Magic president Jeff Weltman said the team won’t have a preference in past experience for their next head coach. He said the process of determining the candidates begins immediately. “A great number of candidates have already reached out to us.”

Magic president Jeff Weltman said he met with Jamahl Mosley this morning to inform him the team would be making a change at the head coaching position. “I think it goes without saying that Coach is going to have a very successful NBA career in front of him.”

Former Magic coach Jamahl Mosley released the following statement today:

Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman will speak at a press conference today at 2 p.m. It will be streamed live on the team’s YouTube channel. www.youtube.com/live/OLArowU...

Official: The Magic announce the dismissal of head coach Jamahl Mosley

A season that started with such high expectations for the Magic, ends with a disappointing playoff finish after leading 3-1. You have to figure that changes will be made this offseason.

Paolo Banchero 11, Detroit Pistons 10

Game 7 between the Magic and Pistons in Detroit on Sunday will tip off at 3:30 p.m. ET and be televised on ABC.

Final: Pistons 93, Magic 79 After trailing by 24 points, Detroit takes Game 6 to force Game 7 on Sunday after outscoring Orlando 55-19 in the second half. It was the largest comeback by a road team facing elimination since 1996-97. The Magic went 1-20 in the 4th quarter.

Detroit extends the lead to 88-75 with just over 3 minutes to go. Orlando is 0-15 from the field in the quarter.

Wendell Carter Jr. has fouled out with 3:51 left in the 4th quarter. The Pistons are up 8 points with two free throws coming after the timeout. They outscored the Magic 21-4 in the quarter.

The Pistons are back ahead on free throws by Tobias Harris: 74-72 with 7:02 left.

The Pistons have started 6-1 in the first three minutes of the 4th quarter, cutting the deficit to 4 points.

End of 3Q | Magic 71, Pistons 62 Bane: 17 points Banchero: 13 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists Harris: 13 points, 5 rebounds Cunningham: 13 points, 6 rebounds Detroit outscored Orlando 24-11 in the 3rd quarter.

Since the Pistons cut the lead to 64-54, the Magic have responded with a 7-0 run.

Tristan da Silva has a playoff career high 10 points for the Magic.

The Pistons have the lead back down to 10 points after a 16-4 start to the 3rd quarter.

The Pistons have started the 3rd on a 7-2 run. Jamahl Mosley calls a timeout.

Halftime | Magic 60, Pistons 38 Bane: 15 points Banchero: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists Harris: 10 points Cunningham: 8 points Orlando outscored Detroit 35-12 in the 2nd quarter.

Orlando is now ahead by 22 points just before halftime.

The Magic are up 54-38 at the timeout. Desmond Bane leads all scorers with 15 points, 10 of which have come in the 2nd quarter.

The Magic are on a 22-6 run since the start of the 2nd quarter.

The Magic have a 10-point lead with 7:46 left in the 2nd quarter, prompting a timeout by JB Bickerstaff - the largest lead by either team tonight.

Desmond Bane is back in for Tristan da Silva, who has 7 points and 3 rebounds in 7 minutes. A really good stint from da Silva.

End of 1Q | Pistons 26, Magic 25 Duren: 6 points, 3 rebounds Harris: 6 points, 3 rebounds Bane: 5 points, 3 rebounds Da Silva: 5 points

Jevon Carter is in for the Magic. He logged 3 minutes in Game 2.

The Magic lead the Pistons 11-10 at the first timeout. Cade Cunningham, who went 14-14 from the free-throw line in Game 5, is 1-2 from the stripe to start the game.

The starters for Game 6:

Random note: As Jamahl Mosley was addressing the media during his pregame availability, the fire alarm went off at the Kia Center. Mosley: “That’s not a good sign.” (It was a false alarm.)

The Magic look to close out the Pistons in Game 6 tonight at the Kia Center, while Detroit aims to keep its season alive and force Game 7 on Sunday

I asked Jamahl Mosley about the Magic's free-throw issues in Game 5, when they went 16-for-30 from the line:

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said Franz wasn't able to do anything at shootaround this morning.

The Magic just wrapped up shootaround ahead of Game 6. Jamahl Mosley said the team wants to get back to its defensive identity tonight, finish off possessions and clean up the offensive glass.

The Magic have listed Franz Wagner (Right Calf; Strain) as out for Game 6 tomorrow against the Pistons. The full injury report:

The Pistons have listed Tobias Harris (Left Ankle; Sprain) and Kevin Huerter (Left Adductor; Strain) as questionable to play tomorrow night in Game 6.

The Magic are once again encouraging fans to wear black for Game 6 against the Pistons on Friday at the Kia Center (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video):

Game 6 between the Pistons and Magic on Friday in Orlando will tip off at 7 p.m. ET and stream on Prime.

From NBA PR: The only other instance of opposing players each scoring 45+ in a playoff game came in 2020: Jamal Murray (50) and Donovan Mitchell (51) in Game 4 of the Nuggets-Jazz first-round series.

The Pistons defeat the Magic 116-109 in Game 5, forcing a Game 6 in Orlando on Friday. Cade Cunningham dropped a franchise playoff record 45 points, while Paolo Banchero also had 45 points, the third-highest in franchise playoff history. Game 6: Time and Network - T.B.D.

Jamal Cain is starting for Franz Wagner:

Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said Franz Wagner is out tonight for Game 5 in Detroit.

The Magic announced that Franz Wagner is questionable to play in Game 5 on Wednesday against the Pistons

New: Franz Wagner said he is hopeful to play in Game 5 after suffering a calf injury in the Magic's win over the Pistons on Monday: therookiewire.usatoday.com/story/sports...

I asked Franz Wagner if he anticipates being able to play in Game 5 on Wednesday: “I hope so.”

Final: Magic 94, Pistons 88 Orlando takes a 3-1 series lead over Detroit. Game 5 is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime in Detroit.

The Magic have trouble getting the ball across halfcourt, and Ausar Thompson steals it and is fouled. He misses both free throws, but the Pistons retain possession off the miss. Detroit calls a timeout. Orlando leads 92-86 with 24.4 seconds left.

Desmond Bane just banked in a 3-pointer, putting the Magic up 92-86 with 1:16 left in regulation. Bane has a team-high 22 points.