The Detroit Pistons are staring down a challenge that only 4% of NBA teams have ever conquered—and Cade Cunningham just gave them a fighting chance.

On Wednesday night, Cunningham exploded for 45 points, powering the Pistons to a 116-109 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. The win trimmed Detroit's series deficit to 3-2, keeping their season alive after falling into a daunting 3-1 hole.

History isn't kind to teams in this position. Out of 91 first-round series where a team built a 3-1 lead, 88 of those clubs advanced to the conference semifinals. That's a staggering 96.7% success rate for the team holding the advantage.

But the Pistons have been here before—and they've beaten the odds. In 2003, Detroit rallied from a 3-1 deficit to upset the Magic, eventually reaching the Eastern Conference finals. That makes them one of only three teams in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 first-round hole.

Zooming out further, since 1968, just 13 teams out of 299 have erased a 3-1 series deficit to win a playoff series. That's a mere 4.3% success rate. The odds remain firmly stacked against the top-seeded Pistons, but they carry the weight of their own franchise history—and the momentum of a superstar performance—into Game 6.

Cunningham's 45-point masterpiece wasn't just a win; it was a statement. If Detroit can channel that energy on the road, they might just write another chapter in NBA comeback lore.