The NBA’s hottest road team kept rolling Sunday night, as the Detroit Pistons delivered a dominant second-half performance to defeat the Orlando Magic 106-92.
Detroit continued its remarkable season behind another stellar outing from Cade Cunningham, who finished with 29 points and 11 assists, controlling the tempo and igniting the Pistons’ comeback after halftime. Veteran forward Tobias Harris added 23 points, including a crucial go-ahead 3-pointer in the third quarter that shifted momentum for good.
The Pistons, now an NBA-best 45-14, secured their sixth straight road victory and improved to 21-7 away from home. They’ve now won eight of their last nine games overall, and an impressive 10 of their last 11 on the road, further cementing themselves as a championship contender.
Despite struggling from beyond the arc early — missing their first 15 three-point attempts — Detroit stayed within striking distance, trailing just 57-50 at halftime. The game turned decisively in the third quarter. After Harris’ three gave Detroit its first lead, the Pistons exploded on an 11-0 run, overwhelming Orlando with defensive intensity and efficient offense.
Jalen Duren contributed a strong double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, anchoring the interior on both ends.
For Orlando, Paolo Banchero led the way with 24 points and 11 rebounds, but his night was marred by nine turnovers that proved costly. Tristan da Silva added 19 points, while Desmond Bane chipped in 17. However, the Magic’s offense faltered badly after halftime, shooting just 30.7% in the second half.
The loss continues a troubling trend for Orlando, which suffered another third-quarter collapse — just two nights after blowing a 19-point lead in a loss to Houston.
Detroit also played without forward Isaiah Stewart, who completed the final game of his seven-game suspension stemming from a February 9 altercation in Charlotte. Orlando, meanwhile, was without guard Anthony Black, who missed his first game of the season due to a strained right quad.
The Pistons will look to keep their momentum going on the road against Cleveland on Tuesday, while the Magic return home to host Washington as they try to regroup after another second-half breakdown.
