The top-seeded Detroit Pistons rallied from the brink of elimination with a stunning comeback against Orlando as the Los Angeles Lakers finally beat Houston for the third time in the NBA playoffs Saturday morning.
The Pistons’ come-from-behind win took their series with the Magic to a decisive seventh game, while the Toronto Raptors also set up a decider against Cleveland thanks to an overtime thriller win.
Up 3-2 in the series against Detroit and looking for a close win, the Magic had led by as many as 24 points before their shots suddenly fell short and the Pistons took full advantage.
A stunned Orlando missed 23 consecutive field goals – the longest streak in playoff history – and scored just one point in more than 10 minutes of basketball, as the Pistons secured a 93-79 victory.
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“Never say die, it’s as simple as that. I mean, Detroit grit, that’s what we talk about all year,” said Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, who led the scoring with 32 points and 10 rebounds.
After trailing 3-1 in the series, the Pistons looked set to become just the seventh seed in NBA history to lose in the first round to their conference’s bottom seed.
But they now have a chance to win the series in Detroit on Sunday.
After an even first quarter, Orlando went on a hot streak, before the pressure to close out their first playoff series win since 2010 seemed to be building.
Boos rained down on the court as the Magic’s 71-54 lead turned into an 80-72 Detroit advantage.
The Pistons, who dominated the regular season, are now favorites to win their first playoff series since 2008.
“Thank goodness we can put this back to bed. It’s going to be loud in Detroit, and we’ve got to get our business together,” said Cunningham, who scored 19 in the fourth quarter.
If Detroit reaches the East semifinals they will play the Cleveland Cavaliers or Raptors, whose series also remains 3-3 after Toronto’s overtime win.
Playing at home, the Raptors led for most of the night, before the Cavaliers roared back in the fourth quarter to put together an intense finish.
Leading by two points with less than a minute left, Toronto gave Cleveland a lifeline on a shot clock violation.
Evan Mobley broke through the Raptors’ defense to tie the game at 104-104, and Toronto’s Jamal Shead missed a return shot at the end of regulation.
In overtime, Cleveland had a one-point lead until the final few seconds.
But RJ Barrett’s three-pointer bounced off the rim, sailed through the air and fell through the net to seal Toronto’s win. Game seven will be played in Cleveland on Monday.
“Thank God, man. I didn’t make anything in the fourth quarter, overtime, I played bad… Thank God I was able to make that shot,” Barrett said.
‘Sale’
The Lakers, after leading their series against Houston 3-0, faltered twice to allow the Rockets to get back to 3-2.
But LeBron James’ squad ended the series with a comfortable 98-78 win to advance to the West semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champions.
Superstar James top-scored with 28 points, plus eight assists and seven rebounds, continuing his fine post-season form at age 41.
This victory made the Lakers not embarrassed. If they lose, they are one loss away from becoming the first team in NBA history to blow a 3-0 lead in the playoffs.
“To be honest, a lot of our players have never been in this position, have never been in a close-out situation, especially on the road, so it was important for me to go out there and set the tone,” James said.
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