The Detroit Pistons completed a stunning playoff comeback on Sunday, dominating the Orlando Magic 116-94 to secure their spot in the Eastern Conference semi-finals. It was a performance that showcased resilience, star power, and a team ready to make noise after years of rebuilding.
Cade Cunningham was the maestro, dropping 32 points and dishing out 12 assists, while Tobias Harris added 30 points and nine rebounds. Together, they led a Pistons squad that had fallen behind 3-1 in the best-of-seven series before rattling off three straight wins to take it 4-3. This marks Detroit's first playoff series victory since 2008—a long-awaited return to postseason glory for the top seed in the East.
"It feels good, feels good that we handled our business and did what we set out to do," Cunningham told ABC after the game. The Pistons now await the winner of the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Toronto Raptors Game 7, which tipped off later Sunday.
The comeback was nothing short of dramatic. After staving off elimination with gritty wins in Games 5 and 6—including erasing a 24-point deficit on Friday to force the decider—Detroit showed they had the mental toughness to close it out. Remarkably, this is the second time the Pistons have rallied from 3-1 down to beat the Magic, having done the same in the first round back in 2003.
"They really pushed us to the limit," Cunningham added. "We've grown a lot because of this series, because of that team. So huge credit to them, and we're ready to get to the second round and continue business."
For Orlando, Paolo Banchero was a one-man show, pouring in 38 points with nine rebounds and six assists. But he got little help from his supporting cast, and the Magic's 16 turnovers proved costly—Detroit turned them into 19 points. Banchero scored Orlando's first 11 points, and the Magic held a slim two-point lead after a tight first quarter. But Harris exploded for 17 points in the second quarter, giving Detroit a 60-49 halftime edge. Cunningham's floater early in the third stretched the lead to 20, and the Pistons never looked back. The Magic cut a 25-point deficit to 14 late, but it was too little, too late.
For Pistons fans—and anyone who loves a good underdog story—this series was a reminder of what happens when talent meets tenacity. Detroit is back, and the Eastern Conference better take notice.