ORLANDO − The Detroit Pistons came back from the dead in Saturday's fourth quarter in Game 3 of the playoffs.
The Pistons trailed the Orlando Magic by 17 points three minutes into the fourth, but stormed all the way back to take a one-point lead with 2:52 remaining, only to watch Michigan alumnus Franz Wagner score five straight points to push Orlando on a 9-0 run to end the game for a crucial 113-105 victory in the best-of-seven first-round series in the 2026 NBA playoffs at Kia Center.
Teams winning Game 3 of a best-of-seven series tied at 1 win the series 73.7% of the time in NBA history.
Cade Cunningham had 27 points, nine assists but nine turnovers for the Pistons.
Tobias Harris had 23 points and Ausar Thompson 17 points, eight rebounds and five blocks.
Orlando's Desmond Bane hit seven 3s for 25 points and Paolo Banchero was one assist shy of a triple-double with 25 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists. Wendall Carter Jr. (14 points, 17 rebounds) outplayed Pistons All-Star center Jalen Duren once again (eight points, nine rebounds, five blocks).
Game 4, Monday: Pistons at Magic, 8 p.m., NBC/Peacock.
Game 5, Wednesday: Magic at Pistons, TBD (if necessary).
Game 6, Friday: Pistons at Magic, TBD (if necessary).
Game 7, Sunday, May 3: Magic at Pistons, TBD (if necessary).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons don''t show up vs Orlando Magic in Game 3 loss 113-105
