NBA, Detroit wins Game 7 over Orlando. Cunningham and Harris super

Comeback completed. The Detroit Pistons, number 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, won Game 7 against Orlando and reached the second round of the NBA playoffs, overturning the series from 1-3 to the final 4-3. At Motown’s Little Caesars it ends 116-94. Now the Pistons are waiting to find out their next opponent, the winner of another Game 7, the one between Cleveland and Toronto. Orlando had thrown away the series in Game 6 by squandering a 24-point lead at home. Unforgivable.

PISTONS TENACITY

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Lots of defense. As always, more than ever. The one that forces 13 turnovers weakens the opponent’s attack until it crushes it in the second half, over long distances. And then Cade Cunningham, of course. Which never seems in a hurry, never out of control. Reliable, physical and relentless. He scores 32 points, Tobias Harris adds 30, Detroit is more than enough. In the next round, starting Tuesday, the Pistons will be the favorites regardless of their next opponent. They don’t have special effects, but they’re damn solid. The 60 regular season victories doubled by the comeback in this 1st round which reaffirmed the mental strength of a working team in attitude with a quality leader like Cunningham.

MAGIC DISAPPOINTMENT

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The series was the mirror of their unfortunate season. Ups and downs. Peaks worthy of applause, but also disastrous, unacceptable blows. Inconsistency of performance, inconsistency, poor leadership. In Game 7 Paolo Banchero scored 38 points, but it was too little too late now. That offensive aggression would come in handy in the second half of Game 6 when Orlando’s season suddenly derailed. Coach Mosley will probably pay for everyone, but the lack of leadership and the inadequacy of an attack that isn’t too united are also his faults, but not just his. This time the Magic lasted a quarter, then evaporated, melting like snow in the sun of a Detroit with for once comfortable weather.

THE MATCH

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Franz Wagner, the Magic’s German winger, is still out due to the right calf injury suffered in Game 4. Banchero scores the first 11 points for Orlando who are up 22-20 at the end of the 1st quarter. Tobias Harris goes crazy in the 2nd quarter in which he scores 17 points and an 18-4 run gives Detroit a 60-49 lead at halftime. At mid-match 23 points for Banchero and 19 for Harris. The 9 turnovers were the Magic’s mortal sin. Pistons ahead 71-51, +20, on the basket of their best player, Cunningham. At the siren of the 3rd quarter Daniss Jenkins hits a triple to make it 83-64, the score after 36′. Match and qualification already in the safe for Detroit. Orlando with only 15 points in the 3rd quarter, a recurring blackout due to that intermittent attack, the last of the season, the definitive one. Detroit advances, wins its first playoff series in the last 16 years, Orlando goes on vacation.

Detroit: Cunningham 32 (6/12, 4/6, 8/10 TL), Harris 30, Jenkins 16, Duren 15. Rebounds: Duren 15. Assists: Cunningham 12.

Orlando: Banchero 38 (10/18, 4/7, 6/8 tl), Bane 16, Carter 13. Rebounds: Banchero 9. Assists: Banchero 6.