Magic seize 3‑1 lead over Pistons

Orlando beat Detroit 94-88 on Monday night, pushing the eighth-seeded Magic to a 3-1 first-round lead over the top-seeded Pistons. (nba.com) (espn.com) Desmond Bane led Orlando with 22 points, Franz Wagner scored 19, and Paolo Banchero added 18 despite shooting 4-for-18 from the field. (nba.com) Cade Cunningham finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and six assists for Detroit, but he also committed eight turnovers and shot 7-for-23. Tobias Harris added 20 points. (nba.com) The series flipped after Detroit, the No. 1 seed in the East bracket, won Game 2 by 15 points to even it. Orlando has now taken Games 3 and 4 at home to move within one win of the upset. (nba.com) The Magic have not won a playoff series in 16 years, according to ESPN’s game recap. A Game 5 win on Wednesday, April 29, in Detroit would end that drought and eliminate the conference’s top seed. (espn.com) (nba.com) Orlando won Game 4 even while shooting 32.6% from the field and 25.7% from 3-point range. The Magic made up for it with a 52-49 rebounding edge and by forcing 20 Detroit turnovers. (nba.com) Detroit’s offense has stalled across the series despite Cunningham’s 29.5 points per game average. Orlando has held the Pistons to 98.0 points per game through four games. (nba.com) Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern in Detroit. If the Pistons extend the series, Game 6 would be Friday in Orlando. (nba.com)