Last time Magic were up 3-1 on Pistons: Revisiting 2003 playoff collapse with Tracy McGrady, Doc Rivers

Last time Magic were up 3-1 on Pistons: Revisiting 2003 playoff collapse with Tracy McGrady, Doc Rivers originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . JUMP TO: Last time Magic were up 3-1 on Pistons Magic-Pistons 2003 playoff series Magic 2003 roster Pistons 2003 roster Doc Rivers, Tracy McGrady and a memorable Magic team served as a cautionary tale for their 2026 counterparts.

Unfortunately for Jamahl Mosley's bunch, it didn't take heed of its predecessor. Long before the Magic jumped out to a 3-1 series lead over Cade Cunningham and the Pistons , different versions of the same squads found themselves in a similar scenario with Orlando shockingly in front and in control. The first series ended in disappointment for the Magic, who were cut down in seven games.

Their 2026 descendants suffered the same fate, seeing their offense turn anemic en route to three-straight defeats and a first-round exit. Here's a look back at the last time the Magic led the Pistons 3-1 in a playoff series and how that lead unraveled. MORE: Where 2025-26 Pistons rank among worst No.

1 seeds in NBA history Last time Magic were up 3-1 on Pistons The Magic took a 3-1 series lead over the Pistons in the first round of the 2003 playoffs, only to blow the lead and lose in seven games. Detroit, which finished atop the East despite being only 50-32, dropped Game 1 at home and won Game 2 before losing both Game 3 and Game 4 back in Orlando, the same way the start of the 2026 series between the two teams played out. Legend has it that Magic star Tracy McGrady got ahead of himself at that point and said, "It feels good to get into the second round.