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The
Clincher:
After
Orlando
cut a
once
17-point
lead
down to
just
three in
the
final
minute,
Cunningham
iced the
game
with a
clutch
step-back
jumper
with 32
seconds
remaining.
(Photo
by
Montez
Miller/Tell
Us USA
News
Network) |
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Support
Cast:
Tobias
Harris
was a
steady
secondary
option
with 23
points
and 8
rebounds.
(Photo
by
Montez
Miller/Tell
Us USA
News
Network) |
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Refuse
to Fold:
Pistons
Keep
Playoff
Series
Alive
After
116-109
Win Over
Magic at
LCA
Willis
Jones -
Sports
Tell Us
Detroit
News
Bureau
DETROIT
- In a
high-stakes
Game 5
at
Little
Caesars
Arena,
the
Detroit
Pistons
staved
off
elimination
with a
116–109
victory
over the
Orlando
Magic.
The win
brings
the
series
to 3–2
as the
Pistons
head
back to
Orlando
attempting
to
complete
a
comeback
from a
3–1
deficit.
The
night
was
defined
by an
epic
scoring
duel
between
two
former
No. 1
overall
picks,
with
both
Cade
Cunningham
and
Paolo
Banchero
putting
up 45
points
in a
playoff
classic.
The
Lead:
Cade
Cunningham’s
Record
Night
With the
season
on the
line,
Cade
Cunningham
delivered
a
franchise
playoff-record
45
points.
He was
surgical
from the
floor
(13-of-23)
and
perfect
from the
charity
stripe
(14-of-14).
(Photo
by
Montez
Miller/Tell
Us USA
News
Network)
Support
Cast:
Jalen
Duren
anchored
the
middle
with 12
points
and 9
boards.
(Photo
by
Montez
Miller/Tell
Us USA
News
Network)
The
Duel:
Paolo
Banchero’s
Response
Paolo
Banchero
matched
Cunningham’s
45
points,
hitting
six
3-pointers
and
nearly
carrying
the
Magic to
a
series-clinching
win on
the
road.
However,
his
struggles
at the
free-throw
line
(5-of-12)
proved
costly
in a
game
decided
by seven
points.
(Photo
by
Montez
Miller/Tell
Us USA
News
Network)
Key Game
Trends
• The
Glass:
Detroit
dominated
the
boards
56–48,
including
16
offensive
rebounds
that led
to
critical
second-chance
points.
•
Defensive
Stand:
Ausar
Thompson
turned
in a
monster
defensive
performance
with 15
rebounds,
5
steals,
and 2
blocks,
disrupting
Orlando’s
rhythm
throughout
the
second
half.
•
Wire-to-Wire:
The
Pistons
never
trailed
in this
contest,
opening
with a
38–26
first-quarter
blitz
that set
the tone
for the
night.
Top
Performers:
• DET:
Cade
Cunningham
(45 PTS,
5 AST, 4
REB);
Tobias
Harris
(23 PTS,
8 REB)
• ORL:
Paolo
Banchero
(45 PTS,
9 REB, 7
AST);
Anthony
Black
(19 PTS)
Series
Status:
Orlando
leads
3–2.
Game 6
is
scheduled
for
Friday
night in
Orlando.
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