Pistons Survive Elimination with Historic Duel as Cunningham and Banchero Both Score 45
Cade Cunningham sets a franchise playoff record with 45 points, matching Paolo Banchero in a historic Game 5 victory at Little Caesars Arena.
The Detroit Pistons have secured their season by defeating the Orlando Magic 116-109 in Game 5 of their first-round series, surviving elimination to take a 3-2 series lead. The contest at Little Caesars Arena featured a historic offensive display where two players scored 45 points against one another, marking the second set of dueling 45-point performances in NBA playoff history.
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham set a franchise playoff record with 45 points, surpassing the previous mark of 44 set by Dave Bing in 1968. His performance included a game-winning 16-foot fadeaway jumper with 32 seconds remaining, assisted by Desmond Bane. This victory was critical for the top-seeded Pistons, who had previously struggled significantly against the Magic's primary defender in the first four games of the series.
Orlando's Paolo Banchero matched Cunningham's tally with 45 points, making 17-of-31 shots from the field. The Magic star shot 4-of-6 from three-point range in the fourth quarter alone, attempting to keep the game close after Detroit led by as many as 15 points. Despite his scoring output, Banchero missed seven of his 12 free-throw attempts, contributing to the Magic's overall struggles from the line.
The Pistons' success was aided by the absence of Magic guard Franz Wagner, who sat out the game due to a right calf strain. Wagner had been the primary defender against Cunningham in the first four games, where the Pistons star managed only 17 points on 6-of-24 shooting. The Magic missed a total of 14 free throws in the game, while Cunningham made all 14 of his attempts, highlighting the importance of free-throw shooting in the contest.
Detroit's supporting cast provided necessary depth, with Tobias Harris contributing 23 points and eight rebounds. The Pistons' regular-season performance of winning 60 games and securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference was reflected in their aggressive play, which coach J.B. Bickerstaff described as returning to the team's identity. Ausar Thompson added 15 rebounds and five steals, while Jalen Duren nearly recorded a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.
The Pistons will now travel to Orlando for Game 6, seeking to force a seventh game in the series. The outcome of the next contest remains uncertain, particularly regarding Franz Wagner's status for the upcoming match and the potential fatigue levels of the Detroit squad following the high-intensity Game 5.
