The Detroit Pistons evened their first-round series against the Orlando Magic at 1-1 with a 98-83 victory in Game 2, snapping an 11-game home playoff losing streak that dated back to 2008.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Jalen Duren added 14 points and 12 rebounds. The turning point came in the third quarter, when Detroit outscored Orlando 30-3, opening the period with an 11-0 run and eventually building a 27-point lead. Isaiah Stewart credited coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s halftime message for igniting the response, saying, “He don’t want to hear any more ‘my bads.’ He don’t want to hear any mistakes. Just travel out there and do your jobs.”
The Pistons’ defensive effort in that quarter held Orlando to just 5-for-17 shooting (29.4%) and 16 points, a stark contrast to Game 1 when Paolo Banchero’s 23 points, nine rebounds and four assists powered the Magic to a 112-101 win. In that opener, Orlando never trailed, building an early 18-5 lead after forcing four Detroit turnovers and limiting the Pistons to 1-of-6 shooting. Detroit rallied to tie the game at 65-all late in the third quarter on a Cunningham three-pointer, but Banchero answered with a long jumper over Duren and Desmond Bane followed with a three over Cunningham to restore a double-digit lead.
Orlando’s Franz Wagner scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter of Game 1 to seal the victory, while Wendell Carter and Bane each added 17 points and Jalen Suggs contributed 16. The loss extended Detroit’s postseason futility: the Pistons have not won a home playoff game since 2008 and have not advanced past the first round in 18 years. Orlando, meanwhile, has not won a playoff series since 2010.
For more on this story, see Orlando Magic vs. Pistons: Game 2 Preview, Score, and Where to Watch – NBA Playoffs 2026.
With the series tied, Game 3 shifts to Orlando’s Kia Center on Saturday, April 25 at 1 p.m. ET, streamed exclusively on Peacock. The winner will face either the Cleveland Cavaliers or Toronto Raptors in the conference semifinals, as the NBA does not re-seed after the first round. The Cavaliers hold a 2-0 lead in their series after a 115-105 Game 2 win on April 20.
What adjustments did the Pistons make at halftime to spark their third-quarter surge?
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff delivered a firm message in the locker room, emphasizing accountability and execution, which Isaiah Stewart said lit a fire under the team to eliminate mistakes and focus on doing their jobs.
Why is the Pistons’ home playoff losing streak significant?
Detroit had lost 11 straight home postseason games dating to 2008, the longest such streak in NBA history, which they snapped with their Game 2 victory.
How did Orlando perform in Game 1 despite losing Game 2?
Orlando led wire-to-wire in Game 1, powered by Paolo Banchero’s 23 points and strong contributions from Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs, never trailing and exploiting Detroit’s early rust and turnovers.
Where and when is Game 3 scheduled, and how can it be watched?
Game 3 is set for Saturday, April 25 at 1 p.m. ET at the Kia Center in Orlando and will be streamed exclusively on Peacock, with no traditional television broadcast.