Detroit Pistons book first playoff series win in 18 years - and how race to NBA title is shaping up
TO THE NET: Detroit's Cade Cunningham goes up for the lay up in their decisive Game 7 win over Orlando Magic in the NBA first round Eastern Conference playoffs at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Pic: Nic Antaya/Getty Images
Cade Cunningham had 32 points and 12 assists, Tobias Harris added 30 points and the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7 on Sunday to win a playoff series for the first time in 18 years.
Cunningham averaged 32.4 points for Detroit, which last won a postseason series by beating Orlando in the second round in 2008. The Pistons advance to play the Cleveland Calaviers, with Game 1 Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena.
“We were pushed to the limit,” Cunningham said. “And it made us really reflect on how we were playing, what got us to this position and what made us win as many games as we won in the regular season. And it got us back to playing the basketball that we knew we were capable of.”
The Pistons became the 15th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit and the second in the last two nights, after the Philadelphia 76ers came back to eliminate Boston.
“I mean, it’s expected,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of his team’s resiliency. “And that’s the amount of belief that we have in this group. This is a special group. And you can’t count us out. No matter the circumstances, no matter the situation, I like our chances to fight our way back.”
They trailed by 24 points in Game 6 in Orlando before rallying to take the series at home. Orlando only scored 113 points in the final six quarters of the series — an average of 18.8 per period.
Cunningham and Harris became the first Pistons teammates to score 30 points in a playoff game since Bob Lanier (33) and Howard Porter (30) against the Golden State Warriors on April 17, 1977.
“We really bonded this season,” Cunningham said. “This group is super tight. We think we can do anything. We’ve had our backs against the wall at times in the regular season, but we stuck together and we found our way out of it.” Paolo Banchero scored 38 for the Magic.
Each team needed a second scoring option in Game 7. Cunningham had carried the Pistons while Banchero was Orlando’s only weapon after Franz Wagner was injured in Game 4.
Harris filled that role for Detroit, but Orlando only had one other player reach double figures in the first three quarters, as Desmond Bane had 10.
“We just couldn’t find the basket,” coach Jamahl Mosley said. “We were playing well on defense, but we couldn’t put the ball in the hole.” The Pistons also got a big game from All-Star center Jalen Duren. He was outplayed by Wendell Carter Jr. in the first six games, but put up his first double-double of the series with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Harris scored 17 points in the second quarter as the Pistons finished the half on a 9-2 run to take a 60-49 lead.
The Pistons’ surge continued into the second half, as they opened the third quarter with a 11-2 run to go up 71-51. Nine of the points came from Cunningham and Harris.
The Magic finished the third quarter with 15 points — the third time in their last five periods they couldn’t reach 20 points.
Daniss Jenkins hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give Detroit a 83-64 lead going into the fourth, and the Magic never threatened down the stretch.
“They fought and battled the whole way,” Mosley said. “We just didn’t get the job done.”
: Game 1 at San Antonio, Monday May 4; Game 2 at San Antonio, Wednesday; Game 3 at Minnesota, Friday; Game 4 at Minnesota, May 10; Game 5 at San Antonio, May 12 (if necessary); Game 6 at Minnesota, May 15 (if necessary); Game 7 at San Antonio, May 17 (if necessary).
San Antonio beat No. 7 Portland 4-1, Minnesota beat No. 3 Denver 4-2.
: Minnesota rallied in the first round after losing Donte DiVincenzo (Achilles tendon) and Anthony Edwards (knee) to injuries. Edwards may be able to play at some point in this series — “week to week” was the official word a couple days ago before he was listed as questionable for Game 1 — and that would give the Timberwolves a serious boost. The Spurs had a penchant for getting into a bit of trouble at times in Round 1, though they rallied and wound up winning in five games. Spurs star Victor Wembanyama’s light only seems to get brighter.
: Spurs in 6.
: Game 1 at Oklahoma City, Tuesday; Game 2 at Oklahoma City, Thursday; Game 3 at Los Angeles, Saturday; Game 4 at Los Angeles, May 11; Game 5 at Oklahoma City, May 13 (if necessary); Game 6 at Los Angeles, May 16 (if necessary); Game 7 at Oklahoma City, May 18 (if necessary).
Lakers beat No. 5 Houston 4-2, Oklahoma City beat No. 8 Phoenix 4-0.
: Game 1 of this series will be the 299th career playoff game for Lakers star LeBron James, which is far more than anyone else in league history — and is certain to stay that way for a long time. The 41-year-old James averaged 23.2 points, 7.2 rebounds and 8.3 assists in the Round 1 win over Houston, and he’ll likely need to be that good or better to give the Lakers a chance in this series. The Thunder are the defending champions, have the MVP favourite in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and seem to have easily navigated the issues that come with a title defence. Will Luka Doncic return for the Lakers? That could change things later in the series.
Prediction: Thunder in 6.
: Game 1 at New York, Monday May 4; Game 2 at New York, Wednesday; Game 3 at Philadelphia, Friday; Game 4 at Philadelphia, May 10; Game 5 at New York, May 12 (if necessary); Game 6 at Philadelphia, May 14 (if necessary); Game 7 at New York, May 17 (if necessary).
76ers beat No. 2 Boston 4-3, Knicks beat No. 6 Atlanta 4-2.
: Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was asked what changed over the final three games of the Boston-Philadelphia series — all Boston losses — and his answer was that Joel Embiid came back for the 76ers. Simple, but true. When Embiid is effective, the 76ers can beat anybody. When he’s laboring, they tend to struggle. Embiid had 86 points in the last three games of that Philly-Boston series. Meanwhile, New York is coming off a historic 51-point, series-clinching rout of Atlanta to get back to Round 2. The Knicks also won the last three games of that series, so both teams are coming in bursting with momentum.
: If Embiid stays like this, 76ers in 7.
: Game 1 at Detroit, Tuesday May 5; Game 2 at Detroit, Thursday; Game 3 at Cleveland, Saturday; Game 4 at Cleveland, May 11; Game 5 at Detroit, May 13 (if necessary); Game 6 at Cleveland, May 15 (if necessary); Game 7 at Detroit, May 17 (if necessary).
Cavaliers beat No. 5 Toronto 4-3, Pistons beat No. 8 Orlando 4-3.
: Both the Pistons and the Cavaliers got pushed to the limit in Round 1, surviving seven-game tests just to get into the East semifinals. And now, a quick turnaround exists with Game 1 on Tuesday. Detroit just won its first playoff series since 2008. Cleveland beat Detroit by 21 points in October but the other three games this season between the clubs were decided by four, three and four points, respectively. Cleveland shot 45% in the four games, Detroit shot 44%. And it’s a battle of the 2025 East No. 1 seed and the 2026 East No. 1 seed. Feels like it won’t be a quick series.
: Detroit in 7.
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