The Detroit Pistons ended an 18-year postseason drought, defeating the Orlando Magic 116-94 in a decisive Game 7 on Sunday night. Led by standout performances from Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris, Detroit completed a dramatic comeback from a 3-1 series deficit to advance to the second round.
Cunningham led the way with 32 points and 12 assists, continuing a remarkable series in which he averaged 32.4 points per game. Harris provided crucial support, finishing with 30 points and nine rebounds, while Jalen Duren delivered a strong all-around effort with 15 points and 15 rebounds—his first double-double of the matchup. Together, Cunningham and Harris became the first Pistons duo to each score 30 or more points in a playoff game since 1977.
Detroit’s defense proved just as decisive as its offense. The Pistons held Orlando to 41 percent shooting and limited the Magic to just 113 total points across the final six quarters of the series. Orlando also struggled with ball control, committing 16 turnovers that led to 19 Detroit points.
For the Magic, Paolo Banchero delivered a game-high 38 points along with nine rebounds and six assists, scoring his team’s first 11 points. However, he received little offensive help, especially after Franz Wagner’s injury earlier in the series. Outside of Banchero, Orlando had minimal scoring contributions, with only one other player reaching double figures through the first three quarters.
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The Cleveland Cavaliers also punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference semifinals, with a 114-102 victory over the Toronto Raptors in a decisive Game 7 at Rocket Arena, ending Toronto’s season.
The contest was tightly contested early in the game, with both teams deadlocked at 49-49 by halftime. But Cleveland took firm control after the break, opening the third quarter with a decisive run and dominating the period 38-19. Jarrett Allen anchored the Cavaliers with a standout performance, finishing with 22 points and 19 rebounds. Donovan Mitchell matched him with 22 points, while Cleveland’s dominance on the glass and second-chance opportunities proved pivotal. The team’s success in winner-take-all games continued as well, marking their fifth straight Game 7 victory—tying one of the longest such streaks in NBA history.
Toronto, which wrapped up the regular season at 46-36, was led by Scottie Barnes, who recorded 24 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. RJ Barrett added 23 points and six assists. However, the Raptors were once again short-handed, missing Brandon Ingram due to a heel issue, while Immanuel Quickley remained sidelined for the entire series.
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Next up: the Pistons and Cavaliers will take the court for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
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