Lowest-scoring half in NBA playoff history: Magic set record with 19-point dud vs. Pistons in Game 6
The Magic made the wrong kind of history in a Game 6 loss to the Pistons on Friday night.
Lowest-scoring half in NBA playoff history: Magic set record with 19-point dud vs. Pistons in Game 6 originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Orlando Magic produced one of the more unique performances in NBA playoff history on Saturday night, and it isn't one to be proud of. After taking a dominant 60-38 advantage into halftime, the Magic put together a demoralizing second half, scoring only 19 points and watching the Detroit Pistons pull comfortably ahead to force a decisive Game 7. Missing a prime opportunity to win their first playoff series in 16 years is devastating enough, but the Magic will have to live with some stunning figures from their second-half meltdown, including a streak of 23 consecutive missed shots and a dismal 4-of-37 mark from the field.
Here's a look at how Orlando's 19-point half made the wrong kind of history on Saturday. NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket Lowest-scoring half in NBA playoff history Date Round Team Points Half Opponent May 1, 2026 First round Magic 19 2nd Pistons April 23, 2013 First round Celtics 23 2nd Knicks May 21, 2006 East Semifinals Cavaliers 23 2nd Pistons May 16, 2000 West Semifinals Suns 23 1st Lakers June 7, 1998 NBA Finals Jazz 23 2nd Bulls Plenty of teams have struggled to make shots in the playoffs, but none had a half quite like the Magic had in Game 6. Orlando's 19 points set a new record for fewest points in a half in NBA playoff history, coming in four points under the previous record of 23.
The Utah Jazz originally set the record in a 96-54 loss to the Chicago Bulls in Game 3 of the 1998 NBA Finals, only to be joined by the Phoenix Suns in 2000, Cleveland Cavaliers in 2006 and most recently the Boston Celtics in 2013. The Magic topped those four teams and every team in playoff history with their ugly second half against the Pistons, scoring only 11 points in the third quarter and topping that with eight points in the fourth on their way to a 93-79 loss. MORE: How Cade Cunningham spearheaded Pistons' Game 6 comeback Magic second half stats vs.