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Updated · NBA.com · Apr 20Magic Stun Top-Seeded Pistons to Take Game 1 Lead in NBA Playoffs
52 articles · Updated · NBA.com · Apr 20
- The Orlando Magic upset the top-seeded Detroit Pistons 112-101 in Game 1 of their NBA playoff first-round series in Detroit.
- Paolo Banchero led Orlando with 23 points, while Cade Cunningham scored 39 for Detroit, who never held the lead and struggled offensively.
- Orlando now leads the series 1-0, gaining home-court advantage and becoming the first No. 8 seed to win a Game 1 without trailing since seeding began.
A No. 1 seed never led in its playoff opener. Are the young Magic poised for a historic first-round upset? After a 60-win season, are the top-seeded Pistons already on the verge of a historic playoff collapse? Is Cade Cunningham's 39-point effort a blueprint for a Pistons comeback or a sign of fatal team flaws? Detroit's home playoff losing streak now spans 18 years. Is this a mental hurdle the team can't overcome? Has Franz Wagner's fourth-quarter takeover established him as Orlando's true closer over star Paolo Banchero?