Pistons Complete Historic 3-1 Comeback, Eliminate Magic in Game 7

The Detroit PistonsTeam·Detroit Pistons erased 18 years of playoff futility on Sunday, completing one of the most improbable comebacks in NBA history. Behind a dominant performance from Cade CunninghamPlayer·Cade Cunningham and Tobias HarrisPlayer·Tobias Harris, the top-seeded Pistons defeated the Orlando MagicTeam·Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7 at home, advancing to the second round of the playoffs.

Cunningham orchestrated the clinching victory with 32 points, 12 assists, and 4 three-pointers, while Harris provided efficient scoring punch with 30 points on 11-18 shooting, including 5 three-pointers, plus 9 rebounds. The duo's combined 62 points proved too much for Orlando to overcome, particularly as Detroit's defense tightened in the final quarter.

The Pistons built an 18-point lead with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, putting the game beyond doubt. This victory marked the 15th time in NBA history that a team has overcome a 3-1 series deficit, a feat that seemed improbable after the Magic held a commanding advantage just days earlier.

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For the Magic, Paolo BancheroPlayer·Paolo Banchero recorded a team-high 38 points with 9 rebounds in the losing effort, but Orlando's supporting cast could not generate enough offense to keep pace with Detroit's balanced attack. The Magic's season ended after finishing as the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference with a 45-37 record, while the Pistons' 60-22 regular-season record proved prescient of their playoff resilience.

Detroit's first-round triumph represents a watershed moment for the franchise. The Pistons had not won a playoff series since 2008, a drought spanning nearly two decades. That drought ended Sunday with a performance that showcased both the offensive firepower and defensive intensity that earned them the No. 1 seed in the East.

The Pistons now advance to face the second-round opponent determined by the other Eastern Conference first-round matchups. Their path to the conference finals runs through a bracket that includes the second-seeded Boston Celtics, third-seeded New York Knicks, and fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.