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We have reached one of the best days of the week. The job is coming to an end, we can go home, crack open a cold one and grab the remote. Tonight my TV will be locked to three different NBA games that will all be closeout games.
There are two matchups in the Eastern Conference and one battle in the Western Conference. It starts with the Pistons looking to force Game 7 in Detroit.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham dribbles the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Ethan Thompson defends during the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 12, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
The Pistons have won the most games in the Eastern Conference this season. While that’s a fact, they haven’t really looked like a dominant team in the first round of the playoffs. That’s not to say Detroit has been terrible, but it seems like some of the flaws that didn’t hurt them by playing a team once and moving on were exposed over the course of a seven-game set.
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They’re down, but they’re not out yet, and if they win tonight, they’ll take the series back to Detroit for a deciding Game 7.
I feel like we need to take a moment to appreciate how good Cade Cunningham has been on this show. He was drafted first overall in the 2021 draft, so it’s not like anyone should be shocked that he’s good at basketball.
Anthony Black of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the fourth quarter at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida on April 6, 2026. (A Rich History/Getty Images)
His first year in the league was decent, probably in line with a No. 1 pick. His sophomore year was derailed by injury. In the third year there were still injuries and the team was a disaster. Last year, he took a big step forward and scored 26.1 points per game. His Pistons team was fearless against the Knicks. This year, he led them to 60 wins and averaged 32.6 points per game in the playoffs.
This isn’t the first time an eighth seed has had a chance to upset the top seed. The Magic are about to add their name to the list of teams to accomplish the feat. They only need to win one of the next two games to achieve this.
Technically, they will have had three opportunities to close the series. The big problem with the Magic is that the team relies on everyone’s availability. It seems obvious that if you lose one of your best players, like Franz Wagner, you’re going to struggle. But the Magic are built around the isolation of Wagern, the physicality and all-around ability of Paolo Banchero, the shooting of Desmond Bane and the defense of Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs.
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If you remove one of these players, the team certainly suffers. Every team would if you cut their second-best player, but Wagner’s absence hurts a little.
I expect him to compete in this game, and if he does, I would be skeptical of seeing him play as much or at his normal level of production. He had 19 points in 24 minutes before finishing the game in Game 4. The good news for Orlando is that this one is at home, so the role players could step up a bit.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham celebrates during the first half of an NBA game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis on November 24, 2025. (Michael Conroy/AP)
In Game 5, the Pistons took advantage of Wagner’s absence. Banchero was great, scoring 45 points, but Cunningham matched that and was more efficient. Jamal Cain, who looked incredible in Game 5, started for the Magic, but he only played 25 minutes. Anthony Black had almost 40 minutes and was decent in his role.
The Pistons still only beat the Magic by seven points in this game. Orlando outscored the Pistons in two of the four quarters, and aside from a poor first quarter, the Magic appeared to be the better team.
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I’m a little surprised the Pistons are favored. The Magic look good at home and haven’t lost yet. Both teams are loaded with role players and a superstar. The problem is that actors are not good on the road. Give me the Magic to cover, and I’ll sprinkle the moneyline as I think they’re winning at home.
For more news and sports betting, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024
