NBA: Cade Cunningham pours in 45 as Pistons extend series vs. Magic

Cade Cunningham delivered a career-playoff-high 45 points to lift the top-seeded Detroit Pistons to a 116-109 win over the visiting Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their first-round series on Wednesday, keeping their postseason hopes alive.

Tobias Harris added 23 points and eight assists for the Pistons, who still trail 3-2 in the best-of-seven series. Game 6 will be played in Orlando on Friday.

“I just love the opportunity,” Cunningham said. “Not everybody is blessed with those types of opportunities to have pressure and have things on the line like that. A lot of times I feel undeserving of how great of moments I get to be a part of. I’m just thankful for it and try to make the most out of it.”

Jalen Duren and Duncan Robinson chipped in 12 points each for Detroit, while Ausar Thompson contributed six points, 15 rebounds, six assists, and five steals.

For Orlando, Paolo Banchero matched Cunningham with a career-playoff-best 45 points, along with nine rebounds and seven assists.

“In the moment, you’re not really thinking about it. You’re just thinking about getting a win,” Banchero said. “Sure, one day you’ll look back and be like, ‘That was a hell of a game.’ We’ve been going at it since AAU days, so no surprise that it happened tonight.”

Anthony Black scored 19 points for the eighth-seeded Magic, while Desmond Bane added 18 and Jalen Suggs contributed 10. Orlando played without forward Franz Wagner, who was sidelined due to a calf strain.

“Again, we’ll go back to it,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said. “This game came down to offensive rebounds, second-chance points, and free throws.”

Detroit controlled much of the first half, building a lead as large as 17 points. The Pistons were still up by 13 late in the half before Orlando closed on a 7-0 run to cut the deficit to 66-60 at halftime.

Early in the third quarter, back-to-back 3-pointers from Bane and Suggs trimmed Detroit’s lead to 71-69. The Magic had several chances to tie or take the lead but failed to convert, and Harris responded with a jumper as the Pistons gradually rebuilt their advantage.

Cunningham’s 3-pointer from the wing with 2:55 remaining in the third pushed Detroit back into double digits at 87-76, and the Pistons entered the fourth leading 89-79.

“To know the moment, understand the moment, and then just do whatever was necessary to help us get that win, that’s why he’s special,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of Cunningham. “He leads this team, this organization, the fans—he has the ability to do that. It’s special.”

Early in the fourth, a long two-pointer from Javonte Green and a 3-pointer by Robinson extended Detroit’s lead to 96-81. However, Banchero answered with a 10-point burst midway through the quarter to keep Orlando within reach.

His corner 3-pointer with 3:24 left cut the Pistons’ lead to 110-104. Cunningham responded with a step-back jumper, followed by a Wendell Carter Jr. dunk on the other end.

Banchero hit another long-range shot to trim the deficit to three points before Cunningham answered with a key midrange jumper with 32 seconds remaining.

After an Orlando turnover, Harris sealed the victory by knocking down two free throws. -Field Level Media/Reuters