Orlando's stars Paolo BancheroPlayer·Paolo Banchero and Desmond BanePlayer·Desmond Bane shouldered the load with 25 points apiece, powering the eighth-seeded Magic to a 113-105 victory over the top-seeded Pistons in Game 3 on Sunday. The win flips the momentum after Detroit's dominant regular-season run, handing Orlando a precious 2-1 series lead in this best-of-seven Eastern ConferenceCompetition·Eastern Conference first-round matchup.
The Magic, who finished the 2025-26 regular season at 45-37, built a commanding 17-point cushion in the fourth quarter, only to watch the Pistons—the East's No. 1 seed with a stellar 60-22 mark—claw back with relentless rim pressure and switchable defense. Detroit's late rally narrowed the gap to single digits, but Orlando's poise in the clutch preserved the triumph, showcasing the playoff comeback drama that defines these high-stakes battles.
Banchero, Orlando's dynamic forward, attacked the paint with ferocity, drawing fouls and converting in traffic to keep the Pistons' bigs honest. Bane complemented him with catch-and-shoot precision from deep, exploiting Detroit's closeouts during the critical stretch. Together, their scoring outburst proved decisive as the Magic wasted little time asserting themselves early, leveraging home-court energy in front of a raucous Amway Center crowd.
Detroit, riding a league-best 60 wins into the postseason, mounted a gritty response in the final frame. The Pistons ramped up their paint presence, forcing Orlando into tough shots and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities. Yet despite the Herculean effort, they fell short, underscoring the fine margins in playoff basketball where a blown lead tests a team's resolve.
This rollercoaster affair highlights Orlando's resilience after entering as the East's No. 8 seed. The Magic's ability to seize control after relinquishing a massive advantage positions them favorably heading into Game 4. For Detroit, the top seed's first home loss in the series looms large—the pressure mounts to even the score before Orlando builds an insurmountable edge.
With the series now shifting back to Detroit for Game 4, both squads face pivotal questions. Can the Magic sustain their star-driven surges amid the Pistons' home dominance? Detroit, meanwhile, must tighten defensive rotations to neutralize Banchero's rim attacks and Bane's perimeter threat. Playoff implications sharpen: a Magic 3-1 lead would put the No. 1 Pistons on the brink, while a Detroit win restores series equilibrium in front of their home fans.
Orlando's rally not only avenges a squandered lead but injects urgency into a matchup once tilted heavily toward the regular-season juggernaut. Banchero and Bane's twin 25-point nights signal the Magic's upset potential, setting the stage for a tense Game 4 that could redefine this first-round clash.
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero 5 during the first half at the Kia Center. Credit: Marty Jean Louis/IMAGO
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