Pistons Stun Magic in Game Seven to Reach Eastern Conference Semi-Finals
The Detroit Pistons crushed the Orlando Magic 116-94 on Sunday, completing one of the NBA’s more improbable playoff reversals to advance to the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Detroit had trailed the series 3-1 before winning three consecutive games to clinch a 4-3 series victory.
Cade Cunningham delivered 32 points and 12 assists, while Tobias Harris contributed 30 points and nine rebounds. The result ends a 17-year wait for the Pistons, who had not won a playoff series since 2008.
Cunningham Leads Detroit’s Historic Turnaround
Detroit, who finished the regular season with the third-best record in the league and locked up the Eastern Conference’s top seed, had already demonstrated resilience by erasing a 24-point deficit in Game Six on Friday to force Sunday’s decider.
The Pistons now become only the 15th team in NBA history to recover from a 3-1 series deficit — a feat also achieved the previous day by the Philadelphia 76ers against Boston. Notably, Detroit has now accomplished this against Orlando twice, having done so in the first round in 2003.
“We had a great regular season, we built a lot of momentum going into these playoffs,” Cunningham said. “To come back from 3-1, odds against us, and to win it at home — it feels good.”
Magic’s Banchero Left Without Support
Paolo Banchero produced a remarkable individual performance for Orlando, finishing with 38 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. He scored the Magic’s first 11 points of the game and Orlando held a narrow two-point lead after the first quarter.
However, Detroit seized control in the second quarter, with Harris erupting for 17 points to give the Pistons a 60-49 halftime lead. Detroit capitalised on 16 Magic turnovers, converting them into 19 points, and extended their advantage to as many as 25 points.
“They really pushed us to the limit,” Cunningham acknowledged. “We’ve grown a lot because of this series.” Game One of the Eastern Conference semi-final against Cleveland is scheduled for Tuesday.
Cavaliers Edge Raptors in Seven to Set Up Detroit Clash
In Cleveland, the Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 114-102 in Game Seven, securing a 4-3 series win in a contest where the home team won every game. It was the franchise’s fifth consecutive Game Seven victory and their fourth post-season series win over Toronto.
Centre Jarrett Allen was the dominant force, finishing with 22 points and 19 rebounds. Allen was particularly influential in the third quarter, scoring 14 points and claiming 10 rebounds as Cleveland outscored Toronto 38-19 in the period, having entered halftime level at 49-49.
“Energy and effort — that’s what I believe wins games,” said Allen, who also contributed two steals and three blocks. His performance on the boards helped Cleveland win the rebounding battle by a commanding 60-33 margin.
Donovan Mitchell added 22 points for the Cavaliers, while veteran James Harden chipped in 18. For Toronto, Scottie Barnes led all scorers with 24 points, though foul trouble limited his second-half impact at a critical juncture.