With Franz Wagner ruled out for Orlando with a calf strain, Detroit looked to capitalize inside. Jalen Duren was working inside early and the Pistons were in the bonus quickly with nine minutes left in the first. They got back to playing basketball the Detroit way with seven offensive rebounds and 12 second chance points. They led Orlando 38-26 after the first quarter.
The game turned into the Cade Cunningham vs Paolo Banchero show in the second quarter. Banchero was doing it all for Orlando as he looked
to step up with Wagner’s injury, but Cade was a man on a mission. He had nine straight points at one point and finished with 20 points in just the second quarter alone. A couple bad fouls at the end of the quarter by Detroit gave Orlando a 7-0 run to give the Pistons a 66-60 lead heading into halftime despite Detroit holding a 17-point lead earlier.
There were two scares to start the second half as both Ausar Thompson and Tobias Harris rolled ankles. Duren picked up his fourth foul halfway through the quarter and Ausar was in the locker room, but Thompson returned to the floor shortly after. He found Tobias Harris in transition for a dunk then Cade for a three – so strange how good things happen when Ausar’s on the floor! Detroit took a 89-79 lead heading into the final frame.
Thompson had a nice behind-the-back move and drive on Jalen Suggs followed by two threes from Javonte Green and Duncan Robinson to push Detroit’s lead back to 16. Orlando battled back as Cade knocked down free throws for his 40th point to put Detroit up nine with five minutes to go. Banchero turned into a flamethrower from deep, hitting four threes in the final quarter and two late to make it a 112-109 game, but Cunningham hit Desmond Bane with a nasty step back midrange jumper that would end up being the dagger to force a Game 6 back in Orlando. Detroit would win 116-109.
I mean, give it up to Cade freakin’ Cunningham – he had 45 points on an incredibly efficient 23 shots, along with going 14-for-14 from the free throw line. Cade set a new franchise record as his 45 points were the most in Detroit Pistons playoff history. He also knocked down five of his eight three-point attempts. This guy is the real deal.
Tobias Harris continues to be the steady vet, and frankly, Detroit’s #2 option in this series. He finished with 23 points and eight rebounds while shooting 50% from the field. Duncan Robinson and Jalen Duren each finished with 12 points.
This might’ve been one of the most impressive games of Ausar Thompson’s career. He finished with six points, 15 rebounds, six assists, five steals, and two blocks. He was everywhere defensively and continues to be a difference maker on both sides of the court. He flashed some more ball-handling ability tonight and it’ll get more comfortable to him with time, but there’s no doubt he has been Detroit’s second most important player in this series.
While Paolo Banchero also had 45 points, it’s a good strategy to let him shoot the ball 31 times. To show how much of an anomaly this game was for him, it was the first time all season that he attempted double-digit threes while also being the first time he has made more than five of them. Frankly, the fact that Paolo had one of the best sharpshooting games of his career and Orlando still couldn’t get the job done should be good news for Detroit.
The series is now 3-2 heading back to Orlando as the Pistons will need to find a way to claw out another win. If they can win Friday night, Game 7 will take place in Detroit on Sunday.
Lock in, sickos.
Go Stones.
