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We’ve reached 1 of nan champion days of nan week. Work winds down, we get to spell home, ace unfastened a acold 1 and scope for nan remote. Tonight, my TV will beryllium locked connected 3 different NBA games that will each beryllium closeout games.
There are 2 Eastern Conference matchups and 1 Western Conference battle. It starts pinch nan Pistons looking to unit Game 7 successful Detroit.
Detroit Pistons defender Cade Cunningham dribbles nan shot while Indiana Pacers defender Ethan Thompson defends during nan 2nd half astatine Gainbridge Fieldhouse successful Indianapolis, Ind., connected April 12, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
The Pistons won nan astir games successful nan Eastern Conference this season. While that is simply a fact, they haven’t really looked for illustration a dominating squad successful nan first information of nan playoffs. That isn’t to opportunity that Detroit has been terrible, but they do look for illustration immoderate of nan flaws that didn’t wounded them playing a squad erstwhile and moving on, person been exposed successful a seven-game set.
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They are down, but they aren’t retired yet, and if they triumph tonight, they get to bring nan bid backmost to Detroit for a decisive Game 7.
I do consciousness for illustration we request to return a infinitesimal to admit conscionable really bully Cade Cunningham has been successful this series. He was drafted first wide successful nan 2021 draft, truthful it isn’t for illustration anyone should beryllium shocked that he is bully astatine basketball.
Anthony Black of nan Orlando Magic dribbles nan shot against nan Detroit Pistons during nan 4th fourth astatine Kia Center successful Orlando, Fla., connected April 6, 2026. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)
His first twelvemonth successful nan convention was decent, astir apt astir successful statement pinch a No. 1 pick. His 2nd twelvemonth was derailed by injury. In twelvemonth three, location were still injuries, and nan squad was a disaster. Last year, he took a large leap and scored 26.1 points per game. His Pistons squad was fearless against nan Knicks. This year, he led them to 60 wins and has averaged 32.6 points per crippled successful nan playoffs.
This is not nan first clip that an eighth seed has a chance to upset nan first seed. The Magic are connected nan verge of adding their sanction to nan database of teams to execute nan feat. They only request to triumph 1 of nan adjacent 2 games successful bid to do it.
Technically, they will person had 3 chances to adjacent retired nan series. The large rumor pinch nan Magic is that nan squad relies connected everyone being available. It sounds evident that if you suffer 1 of your champion players, for illustration Franz Wagner, you’re going to struggle. But, nan Magic are built astir Wagern’s isolation, physicality and wide expertise of Paolo Banchero, shooting from Desmond Bane and defense from Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs.
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If you region 1 of those players, nan squad surely suffers. All teams would if you removed their second-best player, but Wagner being absent hurts rather a bit.
I expect him to beryllium retired successful this game, and if he does go, I would beryllium skeptical to spot him play arsenic overmuch aliases pinch his normal level of production. He had 19 points successful 24 minutes earlier he was done for nan crippled successful Game 4. The bully news for Orlando is that this 1 is astatine home, truthful nan domiciled players whitethorn measurement up a bit.
Detroit Pistons defender Cade Cunningham celebrates during nan first half of an NBA crippled against nan Indiana Pacers successful Indianapolis connected Nov. 24, 2025. (Michael Conroy/AP)
In Game 5, nan Pistons took advantage of Wagner’s absence. Banchero was great, putting up 45 points, but Cunningham matched that output and was much efficient. Jamal Cain, who looked astonishing successful Game 5, started for nan Magic, but he played conscionable 25 minutes. Anthony Black sewage almost 40 minutes and was decent successful his role.
The Pistons still only hit nan Magic by 7 points successful that game. Orlando outscored nan Pistons successful 2 of nan 4 quarters, and extracurricular a bad first quarter, nan Magic looked for illustration nan amended team.
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I’m a spot amazed nan Pistons are favored. The Magic person looked bully astatine location and haven’t mislaid yet. Both teams are filled pinch domiciled players and a superstar. The problem is, domiciled players aren’t bully connected nan road. Give maine nan Magic to cover, and I will sprinkle nan moneyline arsenic I deliberation they triumph connected their location floor.
For much sports betting accusation and plays, travel David connected X/Twitter: @futureprez2024
