The Detroit Pistons pulled off a dramatic comeback, overturning a 3–1 series deficit to defeat the Orlando Magic and secure a place in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Detroit sealed the series with a commanding 116–94 win in the deciding game of the best-of-seven matchup, marking their first playoff series victory since 2008. The turnaround makes them just the 15th team in NBA history to recover from a 3–1 deficit—coming just days after the Philadelphia 76ers achieved a similar feat against the Boston Celtics.
Leading the charge, Cade Cunningham delivered an outstanding performance with 32 points and 12 assists, while Tobias Harris contributed 30 points.
“We built strong momentum during the regular season, and losing in the first round would have been a tough blow,” Cunningham said. “Coming back from 3–1, with everything against us, and finishing it at home—it feels incredible.”
Next, the Pistons will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the semi-finals, with the series set to begin on 5 May.
Cleveland booked their spot after defeating the Toronto Raptors 114–102. Jarrett Allen was instrumental in the win, posting 22 points and 19 rebounds as the Cavaliers rallied from an early 10-point deficit.
After heading into halftime tied at 49–49, Cleveland took control in the third quarter, powered by Allen’s dominance on both ends of the court.
“I wanted to prove to my teammates that we could win,” Allen said. “It comes down to energy and effort—every possession matters, especially when your season is on the line.”
Donovan Mitchell added 22 points, while James Harden chipped in with 18.
For Toronto, Scottie Barnes led with 24 points and nine rebounds, and RJ Barrett contributed 23 in their first playoff appearance since 2022.
