Orlando rallies after late collapse, tops Detroit113–105 to grab 2–1 lead
The Orlando Magic survived a late scare to defeat the Detroit Pistons 113–105 on Saturday, taking a 2–1 lead in their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series.
Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane led the way with 25 points each, with Banchero nearly recording a triple-double by adding 12 rebounds and nine assists. Franz Wagner contributed 17 points, while Jalen Suggs added 15. Wendell Carter Jr. made a major impact inside, finishing with 14 points and 17 rebounds.
Detroit was led by Cade Cunningham, who scored 27 points, while Tobias Harris chipped in 23. The Pistons mounted a strong comeback in the fourth quarter, erasing a 17-point deficit. After trailing 96–79 with just over eight minutes remaining, Detroit went on a 26–8 run to briefly take the lead.
However, Orlando responded when it mattered most, closing the game on a 9–0 run to seal the win.
Game 4 is set for Monday night in Orlando, where the Magic will look to extend their advantage.
This marks just the 13th time since the NBA adopted its 16-team playoff format in 1984 that a No. 8 seed has taken a 2–1 lead over a No. 1 seed in the opening round. Historically, only five of those teams have gone on to complete the upset.
Orlando, which had to fight through the play-in tournament to reach the playoffs, is now aiming to join that list.
The game itself was intense and physical, with multiple on-court altercations. Isaiah Stewart was involved in several heated moments, including technical fouls and a flagrant call. Additional flagrant fouls were assessed later in the game as tensions continued to rise.
Despite nearly losing control in the fourth quarter, the Magic’s composure down the stretch proved decisive, putting them one step closer to a potential first-round upset.
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