Harris Scores 30 in Game 7 as Pistons Eliminate Magic, Advance to Face Cavaliers
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Detroit forward Tobias Harris poured in 30 points on Sunday, guiding the Pistons to a 104-97 Game 7 victory over the Orlando Magic and sealing a first-round series win. The veteran finished the matchup averaging 21.6 points and 8.1 rebounds, heading into free agency on a high note.
“Nobody can say anything to me about Tobias Harris,” head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said postgame. “He’s dependable, reliable, prepared for the moment. What he did when it mattered most was exceptional.”
Harris’s production has anchored Detroit’s rise the past two seasons, a point underscored by center Jalen Duren. “He’s the ultimate vet,” Duren said. “He’s a guy we can go to when we need a bucket.”
Second-Round Matchup Set
The Pistons now turn their attention to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Harris expects lessons from the Orlando series to carry over. “Every series, you learn something about your group,” he noted. “We adjusted and found ways to win.”
Duren Delivers, Eyes Contract Decision
Duren finished Game 7 with 15 points and 15 rebounds while anchoring Detroit’s interior defense. The 20-year-old is eligible for restricted free agency this summer. “I know who we are,” he said. “When our backs are against the wall, that’s when we respond.”
Cunningham’s Strong Return
All-Star guard Cade Cunningham, back after a late-season lung injury, averaged 32.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.1 assists in the series. “They pushed us, made us take a look in the mirror,” Cunningham said of the Magic. “We got better from this series, and that’s going to help us going forward.”
Detroit will open the semifinal series in Cleveland later this week.
Source: Hoops Wire
