If you like “star vs. star” basketball, Detroit was the place to be last night. In a desperate Game 5, the Detroit Pistons avoided a first-round exit by defeating the Orlando Magic 116 – 109, cutting Orlando’s series lead to 3 – 2.
The story of the night was the individual brilliance of Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero, who both dropped a staggering 45 points.
Game Highlights:
- Cade’s Record: Cunningham set a Pistons franchise playoff record with his 45 point outburst. He was lethal from the floor (13 of 23) and iced the game with a cold-blooded step back jumper with just 32 seconds remaining.
- Banchero’s Resilience: Despite the loss, Banchero was a force of nature, matching Cade with 45 points of his own and hitting six 3 pointers. However, his 5 of 12 shooting from the free-throw line proved costly in a tight fourth quarter.
- The Support Cast: Tobias Harris provided a steady 23 points for Detroit, while Ausar Thompson anchored the defense with 5 steals and 2 blocks.
The Bottom Line: The Magic are still in the driver’s seat, but the momentum has shifted. Detroit heads back to Orlando for Game 6 with their confidence restored. Can the top seeded Pistons complete the comeback, or will the Magic finish the upset at home?
