Cade Cunningham Scored 32 and the Pistons Just Erased a 24-Point Deficit to Stun the Magic Into a Game 7

The Detroit Pistons just pulled off one of the most absurd comebacks in NBA playoff history, and the Orlando Magic are still probably trying to figure out what hit them. Down 22 at halftime and trailing 62-38 early in the third quarter, the Pistons stormed back to beat the Magic 93-79 on Friday night and force a Game 7 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.

Cade Cunningham led the way with 32 points as Detroit clawed their way back into a game that looked completely over. The Magic were one win away from becoming only the seventh number 8 seed to eliminate a number 1 seed in the first round. Instead, they became the first team since 1997-98 to lose at home after leading by at least 24 points with a chance to clinch a series. Yeah, you read that right.

Orlando's Second Half Was Historic Nightmare Fuel

The numbers here are genuinely hard to believe. The Magic shot 11 percent (4 of 37) from the field in the second half. That's the worst field goal percentage by any team in either a regular-season or playoff half in the entire play-by-play era, according to ESPN Research. They also missed 23 consecutive shots from the field at one stretch.

Meanwhile, Detroit was absolutely locked in. The Pistons went on a 35-5 run that basically turned the entire series on its head. Everything the Magic could do early completely fell apart in the second half.

Detroit's Grit Made the Difference

After the game, Cunningham summed it up perfectly: "Detroit grit. That's what we've been talking about all year."

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff echoed that mentality, explaining the comeback wasn't flashy or complicated. "We took each possession at a time, both offensively and defensively, and tried our best to execute on every single possession," Bickerstaff said. "Every screening action, every rebound, all the small things. We went out and focused on that. And we put ourselves in position."

Game 7 is coming, and Orlando has to be absolutely shaken after blowing a 24-point lead at home. This one is far from over.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.