Cunningham and Harris Lead Pistons Past Magic in Game 7, Ending 18-Year Playoff Drought

Key facts

• Cade Cunningham scored 32 points and had 12 assists in Game 7.
• Tobias Harris added 30 points, his highest playoff score since 2018.
• The Pistons won their first playoff series since 2008, ending an 18-year drought.
• Detroit overcame a 3-1 series deficit, the 15th team in NBA history to do so.
• Paolo Banchero scored 38 points for the Magic in a losing effort.
• The Pistons trailed by 24 points in Game 6 before rallying to force Game 7.
• Orlando set a playoff record with 23 consecutive missed field goals in Game 6.
• Game 1 of the next round is Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena against the winner of Cavaliers-Raptors.

Historic Comeback Completed

Cade Cunningham had 32 points and 12 assists, Tobias Harris added 30 points and the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7 on Sunday to win a playoff series for the first time in 18 years. The victory completed a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit, making Detroit the 15th team in NBA history to achieve that feat and the second in as many nights after the Philadelphia 76ers eliminated Boston. The Pistons, who won 60 games in the regular season as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, had not won a postseason series since beating Orlando in the second round in 2008. They advance to face the winner of Sunday night's Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors, with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena.

Cunningham and Harris Deliver in the Clutch

Cunningham averaged 32.4 points in the series and was the engine of Detroit's offense throughout. In Game 7, he and Harris became the first Pistons teammates to each score 30 points in a playoff game since Bob Lanier (33) and Howard Porter (30) against the Golden State Warriors on April 17, 1977. Harris, playing through an ankle injury that had listed him as questionable, finished with 30 points on 11-for-18 shooting, his highest playoff score since 2018 and a career postseason average of 13.1 points per game. “We were pushed to the limit,” Cunningham said. “And it made us really reflect on how we were playing, what got us to this position and what made us win as many games as we won in the regular season. And it got us back to playing the basketball that we knew we were capable of.”

Banchero's Lone Stand

Paolo Banchero scored 38 points on 15-of-28 shooting with nine rebounds and six assists, but his efforts were not enough to keep Orlando alive. The former No. 1 pick was the only Magic player to score more than 13 points, as Desmond Bane was his next-highest teammate. Detroit's supporting cast, including reserve Daniss Jenkins who scored 16 points, matched Orlando's bench output on his own. “We really bonded this season,” Cunningham said. “This group is super tight. We think we can do anything. We’ve had our backs against the wall at times in the regular season, but we stuck together and we found our way out of it.”

The Turning Point: Game 6 Collapse

The series turned in Game 6 on Friday, May 1, when the Pistons mounted the biggest playoff comeback in franchise history. Trailing by 24 points in the first half, Detroit held Orlando to just 79 points, including a stretch where the Magic missed 23 consecutive field goals—a playoff record in the play-by-play era. Orlando's field-goal percentage in the second half was 4-for-37 (11%), the worst in any half of a regular season or playoff game since 1997-98. Cunningham led the way with 32 points and 10 rebounds, while Ausar Thompson added six assists and four blocks. Tobias Harris scored 22 points, and Duncan Robinson chipped in 14 points. The Pistons' defense did not allow an Orlando field goal through the first nine minutes of the fourth quarter, sealing a 93-79 win and forcing Game 7.

Resilience Under Pressure

Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised his team's belief in themselves after the Game 7 win. “I mean, it’s expected,” he said. “And that’s the amount of belief that we have in this group. This is a special group. And you can’t count us out. No matter the circumstances, no matter the situation, I like our chances to fight our way back.” Detroit's comeback from a 3-1 deficit was the 15th in NBA history, and the team's resilience was tested after falling behind early in the series. The Magic, as the eighth seed, had underperformed during the regular season but pushed the top-seeded Pistons to the brink. Orlando scored only 113 points in the final six quarters of the series, an average of 18.8 per period.

What Lies Ahead

The Pistons will host Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday, May 5, at Little Caesars Arena. Their opponent will be determined by Sunday night's Game 7 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors. Detroit's victory saves the organization from deep embarrassment, as a first-round exit after a 60-win season would have invited months of ridicule. Duncan Robinson, who scored 14 points in Game 6, anticipated a tough battle ahead. “It's going to be a war,” he said. “That's pretty much what every game has been this series, it's been super physical.” The Pistons will need to maintain their defensive intensity and rely on their star duo to continue their playoff run.

A Well-Earned Moment

For Tobias Harris, the Game 7 performance was a redemption of sorts. The veteran forward had earned a reputation for shrinking in big moments, with a career postseason average of 13.1 points per game. His 30-point outing was the second-highest of his playoff career and the most since 2018, providing a crucial lift alongside Cunningham. “We really bonded this season,” Cunningham reiterated. “This group is super tight. We think we can do anything.” The Pistons' first playoff series win in 18 years marks a significant milestone for a franchise that last tasted postseason success during the 2008 financial crisis. The city of Detroit will celebrate, and the team will look to carry that momentum into the next round.

The bottom line

• Cade Cunningham averaged 32.4 points in the series and led Detroit to its first playoff series win since 2008.
• Tobias Harris scored 30 points in Game 7, his highest playoff output since 2018, silencing critics of his postseason performance.
• The Pistons became the 15th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 series deficit, rallying from a 24-point deficit in Game 6.
• Orlando set a playoff record with 23 consecutive missed field goals in Game 6, leading to a historic collapse.
• Paolo Banchero scored 38 points in Game 7 but lacked support, as no other Magic player scored more than 13 points.
• Detroit will face either the Cleveland Cavaliers or Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference semifinals, starting Tuesday at home.