Cade Cunningham's 45 Points Propel Pistons to Game 5 Victory Over Magic

The Detroit Pistons secured a 116-109 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series on Wednesday night, preventing elimination and narrowing the series deficit to 3-2. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with a franchise playoff-record 45 points, including a crucial step-back jumper with 32 seconds remaining.

The Pistons maintained the lead throughout the game, extending it to 15 points early in the fourth quarter. The Magic mounted a late comeback, reducing the gap to three points after Paolo Banchero's sixth three-pointer with 1:09 left. Banchero also scored 45 points, matching Cunningham's output, but struggled at the free-throw line, converting only 5 of 12 attempts.

Detroit's Tobias Harris contributed 23 points, while All-Star center Jalen Duren added 12 points and nine rebounds. Duncan Robinson also scored 12 points. For Orlando, Anthony Black achieved a playoff career-high with 19 points, Desmond Bane scored 18, and Jalen Suggs added 10.

The Pistons are aiming to replicate their 2003 comeback against the Magic, when they overcame a 3-1 series deficit as a No. 1 seed. The series now shifts to Orlando for Game 6 on Friday night, where the Magic will have another opportunity to close out the series.