Pistons stay alive, force Game 6 with home win over Magic
The Detroit Pistons staved off elimination with a win over the Magic in Game 5 at LCA.
Detroit — The Detroit Pistons held a 112-109 lead with one minute remaining in the game. Tobias Harris missed a floater, but Ausar Thompson grabbed the offensive rebound, giving the Pistons 14 seconds to work with on their possession. Cade Cunningham was able to find his spot and hit a mid-range jump shot.
As the Magic called a timeout, the fans inside Little Caesars Arena began to chant "MVP! " This basket marked Cunningham's 45th point of the game, setting a playoff franchise record for the Pistons. More importantly, it secured the Pistons a 116-109 Game 5 victory.
With this win, the Pistons managed to stave off elimination and force a Game 6 on Friday night in Orlando. The Magic currently lead the best-of-seven, first-round series 3-2. Despite facing elimination, the Pistons felt confident about their chances.
Their confidence was built on the lessons learned during the first four games, and Game 5 offered them one last opportunity to apply them. One critical lesson was the importance of starting the game with urgency and overcoming their lackluster play in the first quarter. The Pistons had their best start of the series, taking a 38-26 lead into the second quarter.