NBA playoffs winners and losers: Pistons survive after Magic collapse
This was a pivotal night in the NBA playoffs. and it began with the Pistons completing an improbable comeback and the Magic having an epic meltdown.
This was a pivotal night in the 2026 NBA playoffs . The slate on Friday, May 1 saw three potential closeout games, which meant that three series could have ended tonight – or the same three series could continue with decisive Game 7s. The Eastern Conference featured two games, with the No.
8 seed Orlando Magic seeking to knock out the top-seeded Detroit Pistons , while the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers looked end the season of the No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors .
In the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets hosted the Los Angeles Lakers in a Game 6 showdown . The night started with chaos, with the Pistons completing an improbable comeback. Conversely, depending on your perspective, the Magic fell apart in an epic meltdown.
Here are the winners and losers from Friday night in the NBA playoffs: NBA PLAYOFF BRACKET: Scores and schedules from all first-round series WINNERS Cade Cunningham Once again, the Detroit Pistons were carried by their All-Star and Most Valuable Player candidate. Cunningham dropped 32 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists in another masterpiece. Nineteen of those points came in the fourth quarter.