DETROIT — Cade Cunningham found Daniss Jenkins wide open in the corner for a three-pointer that pushed the Detroit Pistons ahead by 23 points with under 10 minutes left. The Little Caesars Arena crowd erupted as the top-seeded Pistons cruised to a 116-94 win over the Orlando Magic in Game 7, completing a thrilling comeback from a 3-1 series hole.
Cade Cunningham scores 45, Pistons beat Magic 116-109 in Game 5 to stave off elimination – Anchorage Daily News
Detroit advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time since 2008. It marked the second time in franchise history the Pistons overcame a 3-1 deficit against the Magic, echoing their 2003 series win.
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff never wavered in his belief. “To be honest with you, I never doubted that we were going to win this series,” he said. “And that’s the truth of the matter.”
Cade Cunningham was the driving force, delivering 32 points and 12 assists in Game 7—his second straight 30-point effort. After setting a franchise playoff record with 45 points in Game 5, Cunningham joined an elite group as the seventh player in NBA history with at least 30 points and 10 assists in a Game 7.
Tobias Harris added 30 points and nine rebounds, while Jalen Duren posted a strong 15-point, 15-rebound performance. The Pistons showed their “dawg” mentality throughout, refusing to back down even when facing elimination.
Paolo Banchero led the Magic with 38 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, but Orlando couldn’t overcome the absence of Franz Wagner, who missed the final three games with a right calf strain. The Magic had rallied from their Game 6 collapse but fell short after Detroit unleashed a decisive 26-6 run.
The Pistons now head into the second round against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Cunningham reflected on the growth from the tough series: “This series really is going to set us up for our next series, and we’ll be a lot better for it.” The city and fans are buzzing with excitement as Detroit’s promising season continues.