DETROIT — Cade Cunningham’s 16-foot fadeaway with 32 seconds remaining broke a late surge by Orlando and capped a franchise-record 45-point effort, carrying the top-seeded Detroit Pistons to a 116-109 win over the Magic in Game 5 on Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena.
Paolo Banchero also scored 45, making the matchup only the second in NBA playoff history in which opposing players both reached at least 45 points. The first was Donovan Mitchell (51) and Jamal Murray (50) in the 2020 first-round bubble series between Utah and Denver.
Key moments
• Detroit led by 15 early in the fourth quarter, but Banchero’s catch-and-shoot three trimmed the margin to 111-108 with just over a minute left.
• Cunningham answered on the next possession with the dagger jumper over Desmond Bane, restoring a five-point cushion.
• Orlando, the East’s No. 8 seed, missed 14 free throws overall and went 5-of-12 at the line in the final period.
Record night for Cunningham
The third-year guard eclipsed Dave Bing’s franchise playoff mark of 44 points set in 1968. Cunningham went 14-of-14 at the stripe and poured in 20 points during the second quarter alone. His efficiency contrasted sharply with the first four games, when he totaled 17 points on 6-for-24 shooting while being shadowed by Franz Wagner.
Banchero lifts shorthanded Magic
With Wagner sidelined by a right calf strain, Banchero took 31 shots, hit six three-pointers and posted 18 points in the fourth. He missed 7 of 12 free throws but kept Orlando within striking distance throughout the closing minutes. Wagner’s availability for Game 6 and a potential Game 7 remains uncertain.
Supporting cast and outlook
Ausar Thompson grabbed 15 rebounds and recorded five steals for Detroit. Jalen Duren finished with 12 points and nine boards, while Tobias Harris supplied 23 points and eight rebounds. Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised the club’s renewed aggression, saying, “We come out swinging, kicking, scratching, biting — whatever’s necessary to get it done.”
The Pistons, who won 60 games during the regular season, head to Orlando aiming to force a decisive Game 7. “Until that fat lady starts singing, we got life,” Bickerstaff added.
Source: ESPN
