Home / Sports / Pistons Stage Historic Comeback Against Magic
Pistons Stage Historic Comeback Against Magic
2 May
Summary
- Detroit Pistons achieved the largest road comeback when facing elimination.
- The team overcame a 24-point deficit in the third quarter.
- Pistons' defense limited Orlando to just eight points in the fourth quarter.
The Detroit Pistons orchestrated a historic comeback on Friday night, defeating the Orlando Magic 93-79 in Game 6. Trailing by as many as 24 points in the third quarter, the Pistons rallied to secure the largest comeback by a road team facing elimination since the 1996-97 season.
Central to Detroit's success was their tenacious defense, a hallmark since coach J.B. Bickerstaff took over in the summer of 2024. The Pistons outscored Orlando 55-19 in the second half, with the fourth quarter yielding just eight points for the Magic. This defensive intensity, exemplified by Ausar Thompson's crucial weakside block, limited Orlando to an abysmal 1-of-20 shooting in the final quarter.
Players like Paul Reed and Cade Cunningham highlighted the team's resilient "underdog mentality," forged through past struggles. Cunningham, who scored 19 of his game-high 32 points in the fourth quarter, emphasized maintaining composure under pressure. The Pistons now head to Game 7, aiming to replicate their fight and close out the series at home, with their playoff-best defensive rating of 101.9 underscoring their championship aspirations.
