ORLANDO – Already forced to learn how to play together and comprehend a new coach’s system at warp speed, the Orlando Magic had matters further complicated during the preseason by the sporadic absences of some key players.
Predictably, the results were not what the Magic were looking for in a 2-5 exhibition season.
Similarly, Orlando was without key cog Bismack Biyombo in Wednesday night’s regular-season-opener and its defense suffered greatly in a frustrating 108-96 loss to the rival Miami Heat.
Tonight, Biyombo is back and the Magic’s hope is that by having the 6-foot-9, 255-pound enforcer in the middle it will allow them to be better defensively and defeat the Pistons in suburban Detroit.