For years, the Detroit Pistons have carried a weight—a reputation built on dark vibes and unwanted labels. But on Sunday, May 3, they finally shed it all, climbing out of a deep hole and pushing the Orlando Magic right into it. As the clock ticked down at Little Caesars Arena, the crowd roared along to "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye." And it was, at last, a sweet, blissful farewell.

Goodbye to Orlando's relentless pressure. Goodbye to Paolo Banchero muscling his way inside and Desmond Bane drilling three-pointers. Goodbye to the whispers that the Pistons, struggling against a No. 8 seed, were some kind of mirage—a top seed that didn't belong, destined for the wrong kind of history. All of that is in the rearview mirror now.

Down three games to one? Overcome. Down 24 points in the second half of Game 6? Overcome. Never faced a Game 7 before as a group? Overcome. Like a determined climber, hand over hand, these Pistons pulled themselves from the brink of disaster to a place Detroit hasn't seen in nearly two decades: a playoff series victory, with another round waiting.

At the heart of this 116-94 triumph was a veteran who knows a thing or two about rising above doubt. While Cade Cunningham delivered his expected superstar performance—32 points and 12 assists—it was 33-year-old Tobias Harris who stole the show. Playing for his fifth different franchise and in his second stint with the Pistons, Harris has heard the critics. But on Sunday, he silenced them for good.

Harris poured in 30 points in the series finale, hitting every important shot, grabbing critical rebounds, stealing balls, drawing fouls, and playing defense with the energy of a player half his age. His virtuoso display of timely heroics squashed Orlando's final hopes and marked his best—and most important—game since returning to Detroit.

"Nobody can talk nonsense to me about Tobias Harris," Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff declared after the game. "He is dependable, reliable, prepared for the moment. He's a leader, he's a great teammate. He's a great human being."

For Pistons fans and anyone who loves a good redemption story, this was a night to remember. The dark clouds have lifted, and Detroit is finally back in the sunlight.