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We have reached one of the best days of the week. Work ends, we can go home, crack open a cold beer, and reach for the remote. Tonight, my TV will be locked to three different NBA games, all of them closing games.
There are two Eastern Conference matchups and one Western Conference battle. It starts with the Pistons looking to force Game 7 in Detroit.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham dribbles the ball as Indiana Pacers guard Ethan Thompson defends during the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 12, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Image Images)
The Pistons 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 does seem like some of the flaws that didn’t hurt them by playing a team once and moving on have been exposed in a seven-game set.
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They’re down, but they’re not out yet, and if they win tonight, they can take the series back to Detroit for a decisive Game 7.
I feel like we need to take a moment to appreciate how good Cade Cunningham has been in this series. He was selected first overall in the 2021 draft, so no one should be surprised that he is 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. (Rich Story/Getty Images)
His first year in the league was decent, probably in line with a number one pick. His second year was ruined by injury. In the third year, there were still injuries and the team was a disaster. Last year he made a big jump and scored 26.1 points per game. His team, the Pistons, was not afraid against the Knicks. this year, he led them to 60 wins and averaged 32.6 points per game in the playoffs.
This is not the first time that an eighth seed has had a chance to defeat the first. The Magic are about to add their name to the list of teams that will 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 depends on everyone being available. It seems obvious that if you lose one of your best players, like Franz Wagner, you will have difficulties. But the Magic are built around the isolation, physicality and overall skill of Paolo Banchero, the shooting of Desmond Bane and the defense of Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Suggs.
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If you eliminate one of those players, the team certainly suffers. Every team would do it if you cut their second-best player, but Wagner’s absence hurts quite a bit.
I hope he’s out of this game, and if he is, I’d be skeptical to see him play as much or with his normal level of production. He had 19 points in 24 minutes before ending the game in Game 4. The good news for Orlando is that this is at home, so the players’ role may 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 Nov. 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 production and was more efficient. Jamal Cain, who was incredible in Game 5, started for the Magic, but played only 25 minutes. Anthony Black played almost 40 minutes and was decent in his role.
The Pistons only beat the Magic by seven points in that game. Orlando outscored the Pistons in two of the four quarters, and outside of a poor first quarter, the Magic looked like the better team.
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I’m a little surprised the Pistons are the favorites. The Magic looked good at home and haven’t lost yet. Both teams are loaded with role players and a superstar. The problem is that role players are not good away from home. Give me the Magic to cover and I’ll spread the moneyline since I think they win on their home court.
For more information on sports betting and gambling, follow David on X/Twitter: @futuroprez2024
