Washington (United States) (AFP) – Desmond Bane scored 22 points to lead the upstart Orlando Magic over top seed Detroit 94-88 on Monday, pushing the Pistons to the brink of NBA playoff elimination. Franz Wagner scored 19 points for Orlando before being benched with a sore right calf, while Paolo Banchero added 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds. The Magic seized a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series and can eliminate the Pistons on Wednesday in Detroit.
The Pistons, whose 60-22 record topped the East, must win three in a row to avoid an epic upset defeat at the hands of Orlando, which finished eighth this season at 45-37. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 25 points, while Tobias Harris added 20 for the Pistons, who committed 20 turnovers, twice as many as Orlando. The Magic have not reached the second round of the playoffs since 2010, dropping six series in the first round and missing the postseason nine times. The Pistons have not reached the second round since 2008, dropping four first-round matchups and missing the playoffs 13 times.
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Orlando seized a 19-7 edge but then missed 13 shots in a row, as Detroit closed the first quarter on a 20-7 run for a 27-26 lead. The Magic closed the second quarter on a 17-6 run for a 54-52 halftime edge, but Detroit stayed close into the fourth quarter. Bane banked in a three-point shot with 1:16 remaining to give the Magic a 92-86 lead, and Orlando added late free throws to seal Detroit’s fate, with the Pistons going more than five minutes without a basket from the floor.
In later games, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the Minnesota Timberwolves will try to become the first teams to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs. The top-seeded Thunder, who boast the top scoring attack and defensive statistics in the NBA playoffs, have a 3-0 Western Conference series lead over Phoenix and hope to complete a sweep with a road victory. The T-Wolves visit Denver with a 3-1 edge in their West matchup but will be without two top guards. Anthony Edwards will miss at least a week with a bone bruise and hyper-extended left knee, while Donte DiVincenzo will miss the remainder of the playoffs with a ruptured right Achilles tendon.
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