Cade Cunningham erupted for a franchise playoff-record 45 points, powering the top-seeded Detroit Pistons to a 116-109 win over the Orlando Magic and staving off elimination in their first-round series. The victory pulls Detroit within 3-2 in the best-of-seven matchup.

Returning from a collapsed lung, Cunningham logged nearly 44 minutes of intense play to deliver the must-win performance against the eighth-seeded Magic.

We dug ourselves a big hole, it’s going to be a tough one to climb out of, but we handled business tonight,” Cunningham said. “We’re at our best when our backs are against the wall.”

Early Dominance Sets the Tone

After dominating the Eastern Conference regular season, the Pistons stumbled early in the playoffs but started strong at home. Jalen Duren contributed seven of Detroit’s first 11 points, while the team grabbed 17 rebounds in the opening quarter to build a 12-point advantage.

Cunningham took over in the second quarter, scoring 20 points to extend the lead. Orlando narrowed the gap to six points by halftime.

Third-Quarter Surge and Late Drama

Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr. and a teammate missed key three-point attempts early in the second half. Detroit capitalized, surging to a double-digit lead by the end of the third quarter.

The Magic fought back late, with Paolo Banchero draining two three-pointers and Carter Jr. slamming home a dunk to cut the deficit to three points. Cunningham sealed the triumph with a clutch three-pointer in the final 30 seconds.

Banchero led Orlando with 45 points. The play-in qualifiers host Game 6 on Friday, with a potential Game 7 in Detroit on Sunday.

Other Playoff Updates

The Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers series stands tied 2-2. The Los Angeles Lakers lead the Houston Rockets 3-1 and eye series closure next.