Pistons surge past Magic in Game 7, clinch first series since 2008
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DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons overpowered the Orlando Magic 116-94 on Sunday, sealing a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit and capturing their first NBA postseason round in 18 years.
Cade Cunningham delivered 32 points and 12 assists, while Tobias Harris poured in 30 points as Detroit wrapped up the Eastern Conference first-round matchup at Little Caesars Arena. The victory moves the Pistons into the conference semifinals, where they will host Game 1 on Tuesday against the winner of Sunday night’s Cleveland Cavaliers–Toronto Raptors Game 7.
Detroit became the 15th team in league history to recover from a 3-1 hole — and the second in as many nights after Philadelphia turned the trick against Boston. The Pistons’ previous series triumph also came at Orlando’s expense in 2008.
Orlando’s Paolo Banchero scored a game-high 38 points, but the Magic managed only 113 points over the series’ final six quarters, averaging 18.8 per period. Injured forward Franz Wagner missed the last three games, leaving Banchero as Orlando’s primary option.
Harris emerged as Detroit’s second scorer behind Cunningham, becoming the first Pistons tandem to each top 30 points in a playoff contest since Bob Lanier and Howard Porter achieved the feat on April 17, 1977. All-Star center Jalen Duren added 15 points and 15 rebounds, his first double-double of the series.
The Pistons trailed by 24 points in their Game 6 comeback but controlled Sunday’s decider after a 9-2 burst closed the first half with a 60-49 advantage. An 11-2 run to start the third quarter — fueled mainly by Cunningham and Harris — extended the margin to 20. Orlando scored only 15 in the period, the third time in five quarters it failed to reach 20.
Daniss Jenkins’ buzzer-beating three sent Detroit to the fourth with an 83-64 cushion, and Orlando never threatened again.
Source: ESPN
