Cade Cunningham has scored 32 points and top seeds Detroit pulled off an incredible rally, erasing a 24-point deficit and beating Orlando 93-79 to force a Game 7 in their Eastern Conference first-round series.
Detroit trailed by 22 at the half on Friday (Saturday AEST) and the Magic’s lead went to 62-38 early in the third quarter. They looked absolutely poised to become the seventh No.8 seed to eliminate a No.1 seed in the conference quarter-final round.
And then everything went wrong for Orlando.
The home side became the first team since 1996-97 — when play-by-play began getting tracked digitally — to lose at home after leading by at least 24 points with a chance to win a series.
That number, and a whole lot of others, were just baffling. The Magic missed 23 consecutive shots from the field, the Pistons went on a 35-5 run and just like that, the story of the game — and quite possibly the series — changed wildly.
Tobias Harris scored 22 points for Detroit, who will host Game 7 on Sunday. Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane each scored 17 for Orlando.
The Magic’s 22-point halftime lead was the fourth-largest by a No.8 seed over a top seed in this format and those who remained in the Kia Center booed as they departed for possibly the final time this season.
In Toronto, RJ Barrett hit a three-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime and the Raptors pushed their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series to a seventh game by beating Cleveland 112-110.
Evan Mobley had a chance to win it for the Cavaliers but his attempt from outside bounced off the front of the rim.
Scottie Barnes had 25 points and 14 assists, Barrett and Ja’Kobe Walter both scored 24 points and Collin Murray-Boyles added 17 as Toronto held on after blowing an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Mobley had 26 points and 14 rebounds, Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points and James Harden 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for the Cavs.
Game 7 is in Cleveland on Sunday. The home team have won all six games so far in the series.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/basketball/pistons-raptors-survive-after-stunning-playoff-wins-c-22224773
