The Orlando Magic are suddenly in control and now just two wins away from pulling off one of the more stunning first-round upsets in recent NBA playoff history.
In a game that swung from dominance to near disaster and back again, Orlando held off the Detroit Pistons 113-105 in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series. The victory gives the eighth-seeded Magic a 2-1 lead over the top-seeded Pistons, putting serious pressure on Detroit heading into Game 4.
It looked like a comfortable night for Orlando until it wasn’t.
Paolo Banchero once again proved why he’s the centerpiece of Orlando’s future, finishing with 25 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists flirting with a triple-double while controlling the tempo throughout most of the night. He was matched in scoring by Desmond Bane, whose 25 points gave the Magic a reliable offensive punch.
Franz Wagner added 17 points, while Jalen Suggs chipped in 15. Orlando also dominated the glass thanks to Wendell Carter Jr., who posted a gritty 14-point, 17-rebound performance. Detroit didn’t go quietly.
Behind 27 points from Cade Cunningham and 23 from Tobias Harris, the Pistons erased a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit in stunning fashion. Trailing 96-79 with just over eight minutes remaining, Detroit ripped off a 26-8 run to seize control.
Cunningham’s free throw with 2:52 left gave the Pistons their first lead of the second half, completing the comeback and silencing the Orlando crowd. But the Magic had one final response.
After losing the lead, Orlando locked back in defensively and executed down the stretch, finishing the game on a decisive 9-0 run. The Pistons, who had all the momentum minutes earlier, suddenly went cold when it mattered most.
It was a composure test and the young Magic passed. As expected in a tightly contested playoff series, tensions ran high throughout the game.
Isaiah Stewart was at the center of multiple heated moments for Detroit, including a Flagrant 1 foul on Suggs and several post-whistle confrontations. Orlando’s Goga Bitadze was also involved in chippy exchanges, with both players receiving double fouls and technicals.
Detroit’s Ausar Thompson a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year was assessed a flagrant foul in the third quarter after contact with Anthony Black, adding to the increasingly physical tone of the series.
The Magic are now in rare territory. Since the NBA expanded to a 16-team playoff format in 1984, this marks just the 13th time a No. 8 seed has taken a 2-1 lead over a No. 1 seed in the first round.
Five of the previous 12 teams in that position completed the upset, including the Miami Heat in 2023 and the Golden State Warriors in 2007. Orlando is trying to add its name to that list.
Game 4 shifts right back to Orlando on Monday night, where the Magic will look to tighten their grip on the series. For the Pistons, it’s now a must-win situation to avoid falling into a 3-1 hole.
If Game 3 proved anything, it’s this: the Magic may bend but they’re not breaking.
