The Detroit Pistons secured their first NBA playoff series victory in 18 years, defeating the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7 on Sunday. Cade Cunningham led the way with 32 points and 12 assists, while Tobias Harris added 30 points as the Pistons completed a historic comeback from a 3-1 series deficit.
Historic Comeback
The Pistons became the 15th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in a playoff series, and the second in as many nights after the Philadelphia 76ers eliminated Boston. Detroit, the No. 1 seeds in the Eastern Conference, trailed by 24 points in Game 6 in Orlando before rallying to force a decisive Game 7 at home. Orlando managed only 113 points in the final six quarters of the series, an average of 18.8 per period.
Cunningham averaged 32.4 points over the series for Detroit, who last won a postseason series when they beat Orlando in the second round in 2008. He and Harris became the first Pistons teammates to score 30 points in the same playoff game since Bob Lanier (33) and Howard Porter (30) against the Golden State Warriors in April 1977. Paolo Banchero scored 38 for the Magic in a losing effort.
Key Contributions
Each team needed a secondary scoring option in Game 7. While Cunningham carried the Pistons, Banchero was Orlando's only weapon after Franz Wagner was injured in Game 4. Harris filled that role effectively for Detroit, but Orlando had only one other player reach double figures in the first three quarters, with Desmond Bane scoring 10 points.
The Pistons also received a significant boost from All-Star center Jalen Duren, who posted his first double-double of the series with 15 points and 15 rebounds after being outplayed by Wendell Carter Jr. in the first six games.
Game Flow
Harris scored 17 points in the second quarter as the Pistons finished the half on a 9-2 run to take a 60-49 lead. The momentum continued into the second half, with Detroit opening the third quarter with an 11-2 run to go up 71-51. Nine of those points came from Cunningham and Harris.
The Magic managed only 15 points in the third quarter, marking the third time in their last five periods they failed to reach 20 points. Daniss Jenkins hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to give Detroit an 83-64 lead heading into the fourth quarter, and the Magic never threatened down the stretch.
Looking Ahead
The Pistons will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals after the Cavs defeated the Toronto Raptors 114-102 in Game 7 on Sunday evening. Jarrett Allen starred for Cleveland with 22 points and 19 rebounds.
