Pistons mount astounding comeback towards Magic, Lakers lastly see off Houston, Raptors arrange decider towards Cavs.
Printed On 2 Could 2026
The highest-seeded Detroit Pistons recovered from the brink of elimination with an astounding comeback towards Orlando, whereas the Los Angeles Lakers lastly noticed off Houston on the third time of asking within the NBA playoffs.
The Pistons’ come-from-behind win on Friday took their sequence with the Magic to a decisive Recreation 7, whereas the Toronto Raptors additionally arrange a decider towards Cleveland due to an time beyond regulation thriller triumph.
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Up 3-2 within the sequence towards Detroit and looking for a close-out victory, the Magic had led by as many as 24 factors earlier than their taking pictures immediately collapsed and the Pistons took full benefit.
A shell-shocked Orlando missed 23 consecutive area objectives – the longest streak in playoff historical past – and scored only one level in additional than 10 minutes of basketball, because the Pistons sealed a 93-79 win.
“By no means say die, easy as that. I imply, Detroit grit, it’s what we’ve been speaking about all yr,” mentioned Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, who led the scoring with 32 factors and 10 rebounds.
Having been down 3-1 within the sequence, the Pistons had appeared set to turn out to be simply the seventh high seed in NBA historical past to lose within the first spherical to their convention’s backside seed.
However they now have an opportunity to win the sequence again in Detroit on Sunday.
After an excellent first quarter, Orlando went on a scorching streak, earlier than the stress of closing out their first playoff sequence win since 2010 appeared to kick in.
Boos rained down on the court docket as a 71-54 Magic benefit was reworked into an 80-72 Detroit lead.
The Pistons, having dominated the common season, will now be favourites to say their very own first playoff sequence win since 2008.
“Thank God we get to take this again to the crib. It’s gonna be loud in Detroit, and we bought to complete our enterprise,” mentioned Cunningham, who scored 19 within the fourth quarter.
Raptors take Cavs to Recreation 7
If Detroit attain the Japanese semifinal, they’ll play both the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Raptors, whose sequence additionally stands 3-3 after an time beyond regulation Toronto win.
Taking part in at residence, the Raptors led many of the evening earlier than the Cavaliers powered again within the fourth quarter to arrange an intense end.
Main by two factors with lower than a minute remaining, Toronto handed Cleveland a lifeline with a shot-clock violation.
Evan Mobley compelled his method by means of the Raptors’ defence to tie up the sport 104-104, and Toronto’s Jamal Shead simply missed a return shot on the finish of regulation.
In time beyond regulation, Cleveland nudged in entrance and led by one level till the ultimate few seconds.
However RJ Barrett’s three-pointer leap shot bounced off the heel of the rim, looped up within the air and dropped by means of the web to seal the Toronto win.
“Glory be to God, man. I didn’t make something within the fourth quarter, time beyond regulation, I used to be enjoying unhealthy … thank God, I used to be capable of make that shot,” mentioned Barrett.
Recreation 7 shall be performed in Cleveland on Sunday.
‘Shut-out scenario’
The Lakers, having led their sequence towards Houston 3-0, had twice wobbled to permit the Rockets to get again to 3-2.
However LeBron James’ males killed off the sequence with a cushty 98-78 win to arrange a Western semifinal towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, the reigning NBA champions.
James top-scored with 28 factors, plus eight assists and 7 rebounds, persevering with his tremendous postseason kind on the age of 41.
The win spared the Lakers’ blushes. A loss would have left them one defeat away from being the primary crew in NBA historical past to squander a 3-0 playoff lead.
“Quite a lot of our guys, fairly frankly, haven’t been on this place, haven’t been in a close-out scenario, particularly on the highway, so it was essential for me to exit and set the tone,” mentioned James.
