The Detroit Pistons staved off elimination Wednesday night, defeating the Orlando Magic 116-109 in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. The victory cuts Orlando’s series lead to 3-2, forcing a Game 6 in Florida.
In a game for the ages, both Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero delivered spectacular performances, each pouring in 45 points. Cunningham’s scoring total set a new Detroit Pistons playoff record, surpassing the previous mark of 44 points set by Dave Bing in 1968.
“We’re at our best when our backs are against the wall,” Cunningham said after the win. “We recognize it’s going to be an uphill battle right now, we dug ourselves a big hole. It’s going to be a tough one to climb out of, but we handled business tonight.”
Cunningham was incredibly efficient, shooting 13-of-23 from the field and 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. He exploded for 27 points in the first half alone, including 20 in the second quarter. That first-half output marked the highest-scoring postseason half by a Pistons player in the play-by-play era.
Detroit built a lead as large as 17 points in the first half, finishing the frame with 66 points. While the Magic chipped away at the deficit, they were unable to fully overcome the Pistons’ strong start. Banchero finished the first half with 22 points.
The absence of Franz Wagner proved impactful for the Magic. Without Wagner’s playmaking and defensive versatility, Orlando struggled to contain Cunningham. The Pistons’ offense, which had been inconsistent throughout the series, finally found its rhythm, shooting 48.8% overall and 35.7% from three-point range.
Tobias Harris contributed 23 points for Detroit, while Jalen Duren added 12. Duncan Robinson likewise chipped in with 12 points.
This hard-fought win keeps the Pistons’ playoff hopes alive, though they still face a daunting task in Orlando. The series now shifts back to Florida for Game 6, where the Magic will have another opportunity to close out the series on their home court.
