After the Philadelphia 76ers pulled off one of the rarest feats in NBA history—becoming just the 14th team ever to rally from a 3-1 series deficit—the Detroit Pistons now stand on the brink of making their own history this Sunday.
The Pistons looked like they were heading for an early playoff exit against the Orlando Magic. Detroit's lack of secondary scoring options behind star guard Cade Cunningham made them a poor match for Orlando's suffocating, physical defense. But everything changed when the Magic lost Franz Wagner to an untimely injury. Suddenly, the Pistons began playing like the 60-win powerhouse they were during the regular season, rattling off two decisive victories to set up what promises to be an epic Game 7 showdown.
The Eastern Conference playoffs have been nothing short of a battle royale from the opening tip. Three out of four series have now gone the distance, a testament to the relentless competition in the East.
In the No. 4 vs. No. 5 matchup, the Toronto Raptors simply refuse to go quietly against the Cleveland Cavaliers. They forced a Game 7 with one of the most improbable game-winners the league has ever seen. With just 1.2 seconds left on the clock, RJ Barrett launched a 29-foot three-pointer that clanked high off the backboard before miraculously dropping through the net—a moment that instantly drew comparisons to Kawhi Leonard's iconic Game 7 dagger against the 76ers years ago. Toronto will look to conjure up more of that magic on Sunday against a heavily favored Cavs squad.
To help you come out a winner during this incredible Game 7 doubleheader, here are tonight's TST Best Bets.
First Pick: Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic – Under 202
Orlando's offensive inconsistency has been the biggest reason their season has fallen short of expectations. The Desmond Bane trade was supposed to vault the Magic into serious contention in the East, and after taking a 3-1 series lead, it looked like the team everyone predicted had finally arrived. But their offensive struggles have returned with a vengeance in Games 5 and 6, made even worse by Wagner's absence. In fact, Orlando managed just 19 points in the second half of Game 6—the second-lowest half-time score in NBA history. While Detroit hasn't fully solved the Magic's defensive puzzle, the under looks like a strong play with both teams grinding to a halt in the most critical moments.