Cunningham’s 45‑point outing ties Banchero as Pistons stave off elimination

Detroit entered the game facing elimination after dropping the first two contests of the series. Cunningham, who returned to the lineup just days after recovering from a collapsed lung, played nearly 44 minutes and provided the scoring burst the Pistons needed. The team built an early lead, survived a late Magic rally, and secured the victory with a Cunningham three‑pointer with less than half a minute left.

Cunningham’s 45 points broke the previous Pistons postseason high, a mark he set himself in this game. After the contest he said, “We dug ourselves a big hole, it’s going to be a tough one to climb out of, but we handled business tonight,” adding that the team performs best when its backs are against the wall. Orlando’s Paolo Banchero also finished with 45 points, matching Cunningham’s output and leading the Magic in scoring.

The result shifts the series to a 3‑2 deficit for Detroit, meaning they must win two straight games to advance. A potential Game 7 would be played in Detroit on Sunday if Orlando wins Friday’s Game 6 in Orlando. Elsewhere, the Eastern Conference shows tight competition: the Cavaliers lead the Raptors 3‑2 after a comeback win, and the Lakers hold a 3‑1 edge over the Rockets, positioning them to close out their series soon.

Watch for Friday’s Game 6 in Orlando, where the Magic will try to force a deciding seventh game, and monitor the Cavaliers‑Raptors and Lakers‑Rockets matchups for potential series conclusions.