ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic’s Friday matchup against the Detroit Pistons not only gave them the opportunity to test themselves against a team in a similar situation, but it also allowed the teams’ rookies to gauge their progress against one another.
The first game between the teams in late October was Pistons guard Cade Cunningham’s NBA debut, with the No. 1 pick in last year’s draft on a minutes restriction that night.
Jalen Suggs, the No. 5 pick, was absent from the second matchup in early January because of his fractured right thumb, making Friday the first time Cunningham, Suggs and fellow Magic rookie Franz Wagner, the No. 8 pick, were able to properly share the floor.
