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Cunningham 45 Leads Pistons Past Magic, Series 3-2

5/1/2026

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Summary

Cunningham Scores 45

The Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 116-109 in Game 5 on April 29, 2026, cutting the series to 3-2.
Cade Cunningham set a franchise playoff record with 45 points, shooting 13-of-23, 5-of-8 from three and 14-for-14 free throws.
Paolo Banchero also had 45 points but missed seven of 12 free throws, while Cunningham’s 27-point first half tied the 2026 playoff best and gave him a franchise record of five 25-point playoff games.

Summary

Detroit Wins Game 5

Detroit wins Game 5 on the road, giving the Pistons a franchise-record 0-10 road Game 5 mark.
Orlando ends a 16-year playoff series drought, its first series win since 2010.
Detroit’s only prior comeback from a 3-1 deficit was in 2003 when the Pistons beat the Magic.
The Magic are 8-1 at home in the postseason over three years and Franz Wagner’s calf strain after Game 4 limits Orlando’s defense versus Cunningham.

History

Historical Context

After the Pistons erased a 3-1 first-round deficit against the Orlando Magic in 2003, winning the series 4-3 behind Chauncey Billups’s 30-point Game 7, the franchise built a reputation for late-stage reversals that resurfaced in its 2026 playoff run in the Eastern Conference, mirroring its 2004 championship path, where the team again sought a comeback.

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Cunningham Scores 45

The Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 116-109 in Game 5 on April 29, 2026, cutting the series to 3-2.
Cade Cunningham set a franchise playoff record with 45 points, shooting 13-of-23, 5-of-8 from three and 14-for-14 free throws.
Paolo Banchero also had 45 points but missed seven of 12 free throws, while Cunningham’s 27-point first half tied the 2026 playoff best and gave him a franchise record of five 25-point playoff games.

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