Cade Cunningham did everything he could to drag the Detroit Pistons over the finish line, but the wheels came off in the final minutes as the Orlando Magic pulled out a 113-105 win at the Kia Center yesterday. Detroit wiped out a big deficit in the fourth quarter, only to watch Orlando rip off a closing nine-point run and grab a 2-1 lead in the first-round series.
According to CBS Sports, Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane powered Orlando with 25 points apiece, Franz Wagner chipped in 17, and Wendell Carter Jr. dominated the glass with 17 rebounds. Cunningham countered with 27 points and nine assists for Detroit, while Jalen Duren added eight points and nine boards.
Wagner’s Late Burst Flipped the Script
Detroit’s rally looked like it might steal the night. Cunningham drilled a 3-pointer to tie the game at 104 with 3:14 to go, briefly quieting the Orlando crowd and putting the pressure squarely on the home team.
Then Franz Wagner slammed the door.
As reported by the Detroit Free Press, Wagner answered with a quick two, then followed it up with a three that swung the lead right back to Orlando and ignited a 9-0 run to finish the game. Banchero’s late 3-pointer with 38 seconds remaining capped the surge and, effectively, the Pistons’ hopes.
Where Detroit Came Up Short
Cunningham’s fourth-quarter surge highlighted just how heavily Detroit leans on its star guard, but the supporting details told the real story. Sloppy play and missed chances undercut the comeback.
The Pistons coughed up 16 turnovers, according to CBS Sports, gifting the Magic extra possessions that proved costly in a tight playoff game. One late miscue set up Banchero’s game-clinching 3, a sequence that will likely get a long, uncomfortable look in the Detroit film room before Game 4.
What This Means for the Series
Orlando now holds a 2-1 edge in the best-of-seven series, and the matchup stays at the Kia Center for Game 4 tomorrow, according to NBA.com. With the Magic nudging in front and the margin for error shrinking, both sides will be tinkering before tipoff.
For Detroit, the path back is pretty clear on paper. The Pistons need more consistent help around Cunningham and far cleaner execution, especially in crunch time, than they showed in Game 3. Orlando, now with momentum and home crowd in its corner, will try to tighten the screws and keep Detroit chasing.
All signs point to a tense, tactical Game 4, with the Pistons fighting to even the series and the Magic looking to put a firm grip on it.
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