Bill Simmons gives Pistons props despite loss to Magic

Friday night brought fans some incredible hoops, and they need not look further than the intense back-and-forth between two of the rising teams in the Eastern Conference in the Detroit Pistons ' clash against the Orlando Magic. The Pistons have been the best team in the Eastern Conference in the early goings of the new campaign, while the Magic have been hitting their stride despite missing Paolo Banchero — having won seven out of their past 10.

In the end, the Magic outlasted the Pistons in a bloodbath, 112-109 — handing Detroit their second consecutive defeat. Cade Cunningham tried his best in the end, but the Magic were alert in defending the three-point line that it rendered the Pistons star's excellently missed free throw moot.

Nonetheless, one thing's for sure — the Pistons are