Magic upset Pistons 94-88 for 3-1 lead

Photo: Orlando Magic/X

The Orlando Magic defeated the first-seeded Detroit Pistons 94-88 to take a 3-1 series lead in the first round of the playoffs on Monday night.

Desmond Bane led the Magic with 22 points, Franz Wagner had 19, and Paolo Banchero added 18 points. 

Wagner left with 1:34 left in the third quarter due to right calf soreness.

Orlando overcame their cold shooting night by protecting the ball, as they had only 12 turnovers compared to 20 for Detroit.

The Magic had to win an elimination game at home in the play-in tournament, is on the verge of becoming just the seventh No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 in a series in league history. 

It happened only four times since the playoffs were expanded to a best-of-seven series for all rounds in 2003.

On the other hand, Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 25 points, and Tobias Harris added 20.

Jamal Cain electrified the crowd with a finishing slam over Caris LeVert early in the fourth, followed by a tip-in dunk to make it 87-85 with 4:55 to go.

Suggs missed his first eight shots before hitting a triple from the corner for an 85-80 lead, but Ausar Thompson’s layup tied it before Cain’s putback.

Bane banked in a 3-pointer to extend Orlando’s lead to 92-86 with 1:16 remaining.

Meanwhile, the 45-win Magic haven’t won a playoff series since 2010, when they lost in the Eastern Conference finals. The 37-year-old franchise has never won an NBA title.

While for the Pistons have not advanced to the second round since losing in the East finals in 2008.

Game 5 is Wednesday night in Detroit.

youtube placeholder image

[embedded content]

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *