Pistons End 18-Year Playoff Series Drought With Historic Game 7 Victory Over Magic
The turnaround from a 2023-24 season of 14 wins to a 60-win campaign culminates in a decisive 116-94 win at Little Caesars Arena, setting up a second-round matchup against either the Toronto Raptors or Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Detroit Pistons have secured their first NBA playoff series victory since 2008, defeating the Orlando Magic 116-94 in a decisive Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena. The win marks the end of an 18-year drought for the franchise and simultaneously breaks an NBA-record 11-game home playoff losing streak that had been extended by a loss in the opening contest of the series.
The victory represents a stark institutional turnaround for the club, which finished the 2023-24 season with just 14 wins and endured a 28-game losing streak. Under the guidance of head coach J.B. Bickerstaff, the team has progressed to 44 wins in the 2024-25 season and 60 wins in the current campaign. This structural improvement has positioned the Pistons to reach the second round of the playoffs for the first time in almost two decades.
Cade Cunningham delivered a statistical performance that places him among an exclusive group of players in NBA history to tally 225-plus points and 50-plus assists in a single playoff series. He averaged 32.4 points and 6.3 assists across the seven games, finishing the series with 32 points and 12 assists. His leadership was instrumental in overcoming a 3-1 deficit, a sequence that included a 24-point comeback in Game 6 to force a deciding seventh contest.
Off the bench, Daniss Jenkins provided a critical spark in Game 7, scoring 16 points in 29 minutes of play. His efforts included a buzzer-beating three-pointer in the third quarter that extended the Pistons' lead to 19 points and sent Little Caesars Arena into a frenzy. Jenkins went 4-for-5 from three-point range, demonstrating the depth required to sustain momentum after falling behind in the series.
The Pistons will now advance to the second round, where they will face the winner of the matchup between the Toronto Raptors and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Game 1 of the second round is scheduled for Tuesday at Little Caesars Arena, ensuring the franchise remains at home for the upcoming series.
Conversely, the Orlando Magic face significant uncertainty regarding their roster and payroll as they explore restructuring options. The Magic brain trust, comprising Jeff Weltman and John Hammond, is reportedly considering trading expensive players for liquidity or acquiring a traditional point guard to consolidate around a single star, though their future remains in flux following this elimination.
