Down 24 at halftime and looking cooked in Orlando, the Detroit Pistons flipped the script Friday night, storming back to beat the Magic 93-79 at the Kia Center and extend their season to a winner-take-all Game 7 in Detroit tomorrow. A first-half beatdown turned into a second-half chokehold, with Detroit’s defense and late-game shot making turning a near-blowout into a season-saving heist.
The Pistons trailed 60-38 at the break, then ripped off a 55-19 second-half surge that held Orlando to just 19 points after halftime. At one point, the Magic missed 23 straight shots during Detroit’s run, according to MLive. The comeback kept Detroit alive and swung home-court advantage back to Little Caesars Arena for Sunday’s decider.
Cunningham Takes Over
Cade Cunningham turned the second half into his personal showcase, finishing with 32 points, 10 rebounds, and four steals, with 19 of those points coming in the fourth quarter when Detroit finally slammed the door. Tobias Harris added 22 points and 10 boards, giving the Pistons a crucial second scoring punch. The official box score and game notes on NBA.com show Duncan Robinson knocking down four 3-pointers as Detroit clawed back into control.
Magic's Second-Half Collapse
Orlando rode a hot start and 20 first-half bench points to build that 22-point cushion, but everything unraveled once Detroit’s defense tightened the screws. Contesting nearly everything and turning the game into a grind, the Pistons turned a smooth Magic offense into a parade of clanks and stalled possessions. The whiplash swing from dominance to disaster was a major focus of postgame breakdowns, with MLive detailing the stretch that flipped the arena’s energy.
Game 7: Sunday In Detroit
The series now shifts to a decisive Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, with tipoff listed for 3:30 p.m. ET tomorrow according to playoff schedules and listings. One game will decide who advances to the second round, with the Pistons suddenly holding both home court and the momentum they yanked back in Orlando.
What Comes Next
For Detroit, yesterday's win means one more chance in front of a home crowd and a shot to finish off a series that nearly slipped away. For Orlando, that second-half collapse invites some hard questions about shot selection, composure, and what adjustments are left before the season is on the line. For background on how the matchup got to this breaking point, including Detroit’s earlier offensive fireworks in the series, see Hoodline’s local coverage of Detroit's Game 5 explosion, as per Hoodline
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