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ORLANDO, Fla. — Saddiq Bey went off for a career-high 51 factors within the Detroit Pistons‘ 134-120 win over the Magic on Thursday night time, persevering with what has already been a torrid month of particular person scoring within the NBA.
Bey’s efficiency marked the league’s eighth 50-point sport in March, essentially the most in a single calendar month over the previous 50 seasons, in response to ESPN Stats & Data analysis. The final month with extra was December 1962, when there have been 9 50-point video games.
General, there have been 17 50-point video games this season, and Bey is the 13th participant to tug off the feat, matching essentially the most in a season in NBA historical past. At 22, he’s the youngest participant with a 50-point sport in Pistons historical past, in response to ESPN Stats & Data.
Two nights after being torched for 16 factors within the first quarter by Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving on his option to a 60-point sport, the Magic gave up 21 factors within the first quarter to Bey.
“I noticed these highlights and it was simply very environment friendly. It was inside the circulate of the sport,” Bey mentioned of Irving. “That was an awesome efficiency to look at, and I believe simply all through the NBA there’s been numerous nice performances prior to now two weeks. I am simply grateful to be on this league to have the chance.”
Marvin Bagley III added 20 factors and 11 rebounds for Detroit within the matchup of the underside two groups within the Japanese Convention. Franz Wagner led Orlando with 26 factors.
“Rebuilding is at all times ugly,” Detroit coach Dwane Casey mentioned, “however there’s numerous lovely moments like tonight.”
Bey, whose earlier career-high was 34, completed the primary half in spectacular style, scoring 5 factors in lower than 5 seconds. He hit a 20-footer whereas falling out of bounds with 8.Eight seconds left, got here up with a backcourt steal and made a 3-pointer with 3.9 seconds left, giving the Pistons a 73-62 lead.
“He had 30 factors at half so we had been positively anticipating 50,” mentioned Pistons middle Isaiah Stewart, who had 16 factors and 10 rebounds.
The Magic scored the primary 9 factors of the sport, however that lead was rapidly erased by Bey. The Pistons moved forward for retains on a dunk by Stewart that broke a 50-50 tie halfway by way of the second quarter.
“I believe it was simply the circulate of the sport,” Bey mentioned. “I did not come into the sport saying that is what I’ll do, however you catch a rhythm and also you get in a zone. My teammates did an awesome job of discovering me and simply encouraging me to remain aggressive.”
The Pistons shot 50% and their 134 factors was additionally a season excessive.
“[Bey] bought going early and he hit some actually powerful pictures, however we have got to do a greater job — I’ve bought to do a greater job — of not letting him do what he needs to do,” Wagner mentioned. “He shot 14 3s, and we knew earlier than the sport we did not need him capturing 3s.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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