Cade Cunningham refused to let the Detroit Pistons’ season die on their home floor, torching the Orlando Magic for 45 points in a 116-109 win yesterday at Little Caesars Arena that kept Detroit’s playoff hopes on life support and forced a Game 6.
The top-seeded Pistons controlled the game from the opening tip, then survived a wild late push from Orlando in a tense, whistle-heavy finish. Now the series shifts back to Florida, where Detroit will try to steal one in Orlando and drag this thing to a Game 7.
Cunningham outduels Banchero in clutch finish
Cunningham’s 45, a franchise playoff record for the Pistons, came with just about every big-time shot Detroit needed, including a step-back jumper with 32 seconds remaining and a playoff-career-high five 3-pointers. Paolo Banchero matched him shot-for-shot for much of the night, also finishing with 45 for the Magic, but he missed several key free throws down the stretch as Orlando faltered late, according to ClickOnDetroit.
Box score tells the story
Cunningham went 13-of-23 from the field, drilled 5-of-8 from beyond the arc and calmly knocked down all 14 of his free throws. Tobias Harris chipped in 23 points, while Jalen Duren added 12 points and nine rebounds as Detroit’s starters carried the load. The official game sheet and box score show the Pistons holding steady in the final minutes to lock in the 116-109 win, per the box score at CBS Sports.
What’s next: Winner-take-all vibes in Orlando
Orlando still leads the series 3-2 and will host Game 6 tomorrow at the Kia Center, where Detroit has to win to force a decisive Game 7. Cunningham summed up the mood in the locker room afterward with a simple mantra: "Back against the wall, never-say-die mentality," as noted in the NBA.com live blog covering the night’s action. The Kia Center event listing confirms the Game 6 schedule and location.
Pistons survive, but questions linger
The win buys Detroit at least one more game, but it also highlighted just how dependent the Pistons are on Cunningham carrying a massive load and how thin the margin for error is around him. Local coverage has flagged matchup issues and turnover problems that Detroit will have to tighten up before heading south, and those quirky historical notes are hanging over the matchup too, including Orlando’s history of being winless on the road in a Game 5, according to FOX 2 Detroit.
.jpg){kind=link}