Pistons Rally from 24-Point Deficit to Force Game 7 Against Magic

Key facts

• Detroit Pistons trailed by 24 points in the third quarter before rallying to win 93-79.
• Orlando Magic missed 23 consecutive field goals in the second half, a playoff record.
• Magic scored only 19 points in the second half, the fewest in any half of an NBA playoff game.
• Pistons outscored Magic 55-19 after halftime, including a 35-12 second quarter for Orlando.
• Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
• Detroit can become the 14th team to win a series after trailing 3-1.
• Orlando can become the seventh No. 8 seed to upset a No. 1 seed in the first round.
• Paolo Banchero's dunk was the Magic's only fourth-quarter field goal; they shot 1-of-20 in the period.

A Collapse of Historic Proportions

The Orlando Magic turned a 22-point halftime lead into a 93-79 loss on Friday, suffering one of the most dramatic collapses in NBA playoff history. Leading the top-seeded Detroit Pistons 3-1 in the Eastern Conference first-round series, the Magic needed only one more win to advance. Instead, they will face a decisive Game 7 on the road. Orlando led 60-38 at the break, powered by a dominant 35-12 second quarter. But the Pistons clawed back, outscoring the Magic 55-19 in the second half. The defeat evened the series at 3-3 and sent both teams back to Detroit for Sunday's finale.

The Unraveling: 23 Consecutive Missed Shots

The Magic's offensive meltdown was unprecedented. After scoring early in the third quarter to push their lead to 62-38, Orlando missed 23 straight field goals — a playoff record in the play-by-play era. The drought spanned the remainder of the third quarter and most of the fourth. In the fourth quarter alone, the Magic shot 1-of-20 from the field, with Paolo Banchero's dunk accounting for the only make. They did not hit a single jump shot in the final period. Despite committing only 10 turnovers, their lowest total of the series, Orlando could not generate reliable offense.

Detroit's Methodical Comeback

The Pistons refused to fold. Trailing by 24 points early in the third quarter, Detroit chipped away methodically. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff and forward Isaiah Stewart urged the team to keep fighting, according to guard Cade Cunningham. "We still believed we could get back in the game and win it," Cunningham said. "It was going to be by chipping away at it, cutting it from 22, cutting it down to six, then taking the lead." Detroit won the third quarter and dominated the fourth. Tobias Harris's free throws gave the Pistons their first lead at 74-72 with about five minutes remaining. The home crowd at the Kia Center fell silent as the comeback completed.

Numbers That Define the Night

The statistics paint a stark picture. The Magic's 19-point second half is the lowest in any half of an NBA playoff game, surpassing the previous record by four points. Orlando shot 14.3 percent from the field after halftime, with all three makes coming in the first eight minutes of the third quarter. Detroit, meanwhile, flipped the game with defense and persistence. After allowing 60 first-half points, the Pistons held Orlando to just 19 in the second half. The 55-19 margin over the final 24 minutes turned what seemed like a certain rout into a decisive victory.

Game 7: History Hangs in the Balance

Sunday's Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) will determine which narrative prevails. The Pistons can become only the 14th team in NBA history to win a series after trailing 3-1. The Magic aim to join just six other No. 8 seeds that have upset a No. 1 seed in the first round. For Orlando, the mental recovery is as pressing as the physical. With roughly 48 hours to regroup, the Magic must erase the memory of a catastrophic second half. The Pistons, buoyed by momentum and home-court advantage, enter the game believing they have already overcome the worst.

A Series Transformed

What began as a dominant performance by the Magic has become a test of resilience. Orlando's collapse in Game 6 was not merely a bad half — it was a historic failure that will define this series regardless of Sunday's outcome. The Pistons, once on the brink of elimination, now have a chance to complete an improbable comeback. The contrast between the two halves could not be starker. In the first, Orlando looked like a team ready to advance. In the second, they looked like a team that had forgotten how to score. The question now is which version of the Magic will show up in Detroit.

The bottom line

• The Pistons forced Game 7 after erasing a 24-point deficit, outscoring Orlando 55-19 in the second half.
• Orlando's 23 consecutive missed field goals set a playoff record for futility.
• The Magic's 19-point second half is the lowest in any half of NBA playoff history.
• Game 7 will be played Sunday in Detroit, with the Pistons seeking to become the 14th team to win a series after trailing 3-1.
• Orlando can become the seventh No. 8 seed to upset a No. 1 seed, but must recover from a historic collapse.
• Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris led Detroit's comeback, while Paolo Banchero's dunk was Orlando's only fourth-quarter field goal.