-
Om Youngmisuk
multiple authors
Detroit– Cade Cunningham pulled orlando magic Rescue in the paint on the drive before he gets it dennis jenkins Joe puts it alone in the right corner for a 3-pointer. detroit pistons Up 23 points.
With 9:19 remaining in Game 7, the home fans at Little Caesars Arena erupted. They had been waiting nearly two decades to celebrate the Pistons’ victory in a postseason series, and they rejoiced when top-seeded Detroit defeated the Magic. 116-94 Making a comeback after losing the series 3-1.
The Pistons reached the East Semifinals for the first time since 2008 and did so in dramatic fashion. The East’s best team was on a streak, needing to not only win three games in a row but also overcome a 24-point deficit in the second half of Game 6.
“I mean, to be honest with you, I never doubted that we were going to win this series,” Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff said. “And that’s the truth of the matter.”
This marked the second time in franchise history that the Pistons overcame a 3–1 deficit, having previously come from behind to defeat the Magic in 2003.
The 60-win Pistons survived this season thanks to Cunningham’s talents. The fifth-year guard was sensational in avoiding elimination. After setting a franchise playoff record by scoring 45 points in the Pistons’ Game 5 win, he scored 32 points for the second straight game on Sunday.
Cunningham also had 12 assists, and became the seventh player in NBA history to have at least 30 points and 10 assists in a Game 7.
“Credit to [the Magic]They pushed us,” Cunningham said. “They really made us look in the mirror. I think we have got a lot of things better from this series. I have become much better. I learned a lot about myself, learned a lot about the team. So, I think this series will really prepare us for our next series, and we’ll be much better for it.”
Cunningham got some much-needed help tobias harrisWho had 30 points and nine rebounds. all-star big man Jalen Duren Saved his best game of the series with 15 points and 15 rebounds for Game 7.
The Pistons never doubted their identity and held on to their “Dog” mentality, especially when things looked bleak.
“I know who I am, I know who the team is,” Duren said. “No matter what the outside noise is. In our locker room, we know who we are – as a team, as a group, as an organization. We don’t take this ‘Dog’ thing lightly. We really feel like we’re the Dogs. We feel like when our backs are against the wall, the whole world is counting on us, that it’s time to go. Now, it’s time to keep swinging. I never doubted a thing. I never doubted people. Didn’t doubt.”
The Magic were trying to recover from their Game 6 slump, during which they missed a playoff-record 23 consecutive shots. paolo banchero Scored the first 11 points for Orlando and finished with 38 points, nine rebounds and six assists.
But he did not have enough help. After the score was tied 45–45 late in the second quarter, the Pistons went on a 26–6 run.
Desmond Bainwho was acquired from Memphis for four first-round picks and a pick swap in the offseason to provide Orlando with much-needed scoring and outside shooting, hit five shots and finished with 16 points. Wendell Carter Jr.. had 13 points, and anthony black 11 added.
magic never repaired the loss franz wagnerJoe missed the last three games due to a right calf strain, which forced him to use a walking boot. Wagner averaged 16.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.8 steals. His defense on Cunningham was invaluable, as the Pistons’ star scored a total of 17 points, made 6 of 24 shots – including just 3 of 16 from behind the arc – and had six turnovers when Wagner was his primary defender, according to ESPN’s tracking.
“Obviously, when one of your best players goes down, it definitely changes a lot,” Carter said. “When he went down, it was definitely tough. But with him out, we still gave ourselves a chance.
“We just drank the Kool-Aid [up 3-1]. We just…it was there.”
Wagner watched from the bench as five Orlando defenders advanced on Cunningham, leaving his shooting hand in the air before Jenkins buried a 3 and the Magic called timeout.
The Detroit celebration was underway, a party that almost didn’t happen after being just 23 minutes away from being eliminated by the Pistons in Game 6.
Instead, Detroit’s impressive season continues against cleveland cavaliers In the second round.
“We had a great regular season,” Cunningham said. “We’ve built a lot of momentum going into this playoffs, and losing in the first round would be really sad. I think it would hurt the city. The city has gotten more excited about this team, and we feel loved. So, we wanted to perform and figure it out and come back from 3-1 against us, and it feels good to come back and win it at home. It feels really good. And we’re excited for what’s to come.”
