Pistons join a handful of teams trying to avoid a Game 5 elimination
Following a disappointing Game 4 loss to the Magic, the Detroit Pistons are among a few teams striving to avoid elimination in Game 5.
Detroit — The Detroit Pistons will return to Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday night, facing a tough challenge. After sustaining a 94-88 Game 4 loss , the Pistons will enter Game 5 trailing the Orlando Magic, 3-1, in the best-of-seven first-round series. The Magic have become the sixth eighth seed to take a 3-1 series lead over a No.
1 seed since the 1983-84 season. In four of the last five instances, the lower-seeded team has gone on to eliminate the top-seeded team. The only team to fail was the Magic in 2003, when the Pistons came back from a 3-1 deficit.
More: Detroit Pistons leaning on season motto ahead of potential elimination The Pistons will try to repeat history. However, they are not the only team in the league attempting to stave off elimination in Game 5 of their respective series. No.
2 Boston Celtics lead No. 7 Philadelphia 76ers, 3-1 VJ Edgecombe and Tyrese Maxey combined for 59 points, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 111-97 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 2, which tied the series at 1-1. After a close loss to the Celtics in Game 3 (108-100), the 76ers still had some momentum and received a significant boost with the return of former league MVP Joel Embiid.