Pistons outplayed by Magic in Game 1 loss

Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News on Apr 19, 2026

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DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons trailed the Orlando Magic 96-90 with 6:50 remaining in the fourth quarter when Cade Cunningham was fouled by Desmond Bane during a lay-up attempt.

Cunningham went to the free-throw line and successfully made both shots, narrowing the Pistons' deficit to four points (96-92) as fans inside Little Caesars Arena chanted "MVP."

Initially, it appeared that the Pistons were ready to make a late-game rally. However, on Orlando's next possession, Tristan Da Silva made a 3-point shot, which silenced the crowd. The series of events illustrated how the Pistons suffered a 112-101 Game 1 loss to the Magic Sunday.

Cunningham and Tobias Harris were the only two players who provided consistent offense for the Pistons. Cunningham led the way with 39 points on 12-of-27 shooting, to go along with five rebounds and four assists. Harris added 17 points on 5-of-15 shooting. They were the only two players who scored in double figures.

The Pistons seemed disconnected throughout the night. Communication on the offensive end was lacking, and they allowed several wide-open shots on the defensive end. Detroit was two steps behind Orlando for the entire night, which could have been due to the contrasting situations of the two teams.

One team had not played since its season finale a week ago, while the other was energized from a crucial do-or-die contest just 48 hours earlier during the NBA play-in tournament. Although the Pistons had competitive practices over the previous four days, they struggled to match the intensity of in-game action, particularly during the opening round of the NBA Playoffs.

The Magic took an early lead against the Pistons, going up by 13 points, thanks in part to Jalen Suggs (16 points), who began the game by shooting 3 of 4 from the field and scoring eight early points.The Pistons managed to bounce back with the help of their bench, narrowing the double-digit deficit to 55-51 by halftime. However, each time the Pistons closed the gap, the Magic found a way to respond and stifle their momentum.

The biggest momentum shift came after Cunningham scored on a 3-point field goal at the 7:45 mark of the third period. His basket brought Detroit within two points (67-65), but the Magic responded by going on a 12-3 run.

All five starters scored in double figures for the Magic, with Paolo Banchero leading the way with 23 points and nine rebounds. Franz Wagner (Michigan) added 19 points, while Bane contributed with 17.

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