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We have reached one of the best days of the week. Work ends, we have to go home, crack open a cold one and reach for the remote control. Tonight, my TV will be locked on three different NBA games, all of which will be close games.
There are two Eastern Conference games and one Western Conference game. It starts with the Pistons looking to force Game 7 in Detroit.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham dribbles the ball as Indiana Pacers guard Ethan Thompson defends during the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind., on April 12, 2026. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
The Pistons won the most games in the Eastern Conference this season. While that’s a fact, they haven’t really looked like a dominant team in the first round of the playoffs. That’s not to say Detroit has been terrible, but they look like some of the flaws that didn’t hurt them when they played a team once and moved on have been exposed in a seven-game stretch.
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They’re down, but they’re not out yet, and if they win tonight, they’re going to bring the series back to Detroit for a decisive Game 7.
I feel like we need to take a moment to appreciate how good Cade Cunningham has been in this series. He was drafted first overall in the 2021 draft, so it’s not like anyone should be shocked that he’s good at basketball.
Anthony Black of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball against the Detroit Pistons in the fourth quarter at the Kia Center in Orlando, Fla., on April 6, 2026. (Rich Storry/Getty Images)
His first year in the league was decent, probably roughly on par with a No. 1 pick. His sophomore year was derailed by injury. In year three there were still injuries and the team was a disaster. Last year, he took a big leap, scoring 26.1 points per game. His Pistons team was fearless against the Knicks. This year, he led them to 60 wins and averaged 32.6 points per game. match in the playoffs.
This is not the first time an eighth seed has had a chance to upset the first seed. The Magic are on the verge of adding their name to the list of teams to accomplish the feat. They only need to win one of the next two games to do so.
Technically, they will have had three chances to close out the series. The big problem with Magic is that the team is dependent on everyone being available. It sounds obvious that if you lose one of your best players, like Franz Wagner, you are going to struggle. But the Magic are built around Paolo Banchero’s isolation, physicality and overall ability, Desmond Bane’s shooting and Wendell Carter Jr.’s defense. and Jalen Suggs.
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If you remove one of these players, the team will definitely suffer. Any team would if you took away their second best player, but Wagner’s absence hurts quite a bit.
I expect him to be out in this game, and if he does go, I’d be skeptical to see him play as much or with his normal level of production. He had 19 points in 24 minutes before being done for the game in Game 4. The good news for Orlando is that this one is at home, so the role players can step up a bit.
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham celebrates during the first half of an NBA game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis on Nov. 24, 2025. (Michael Conroy/AP)
In Game 5, the Pistons took advantage of Wagner’s absence. Banchero was fantastic, putting up 45 points, but Cunningham matched that output and was more efficient. Jamal Cain, who looked terrific in Game 5, started for the Magic, but he only played 25 minutes. Anthony Black got almost 40 minutes and was decent in his role.
The Pistons still only beat the Magic by seven points in that game. Orlando outscored the Pistons in two of the four quarters, and outside of a bad first quarter, the Magic looked like the better team.
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I’m a little surprised that the stamps are preferred. The Magic have looked good at home and haven’t lost yet. Both teams are loaded with role players and a superstar. The problem is that role players are not good on the road. Give me the magic to cover and I will sprinkle the money line as I think they will win on their home court.
For more information on sports betting and gambling, follow David on X/Twitter: @futureprez2024
