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Pistons rout Magic to complete comeback, advance in NBA playoffs / Photo: © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Pistons rout Magic to complete comeback, advance in NBA playoffs
The Detroit Pistons dominated the Orlando Magic 116-94 on Sunday to complete their NBA playoff series comeback and punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Cade Cunningham scored 32 points and handed out 12 assists and Tobias Harris added 30 points with nine rebounds as the Pistons, who trailed 3-1 in the best-of-seven series, wrapped up a 4-3 triumph.
The Pistons, who locked up the top seed in the East with the third-best record in the league, notched their first playoff series victory since 2008.
"It feels good, feels good that we handled our business and did what we set out to do," Cunningham told broadcaster ABC.
They'll next face either the fourth-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers or fifth-seeded Toronto Raptors.
The Cavs hosted game seven of their series later on Sunday.
Detroit had already fended off elimination with victories in games five and six against the Magic -- erasing a 24-point deficit on Friday to force Sunday's decider.
It's the second time the Pistons have rallied from 3-1 down to top the Magic, having accomplished the feat in the first round in 2003.
"They really pushed us to the limit," Cunningham said. "We've grown a lot because of this series, because of that team. So huge credit to them, and we're ready to get to the second round and continue business."
Paolo Banchero scored 38 points with nine rebounds and six assists for Orlando. But he got precious little scoring support and the Pistons took full advantage of 16 Magic turnovers that led to 19 Detroit points.
Banchero, who struggled offensively in game six, scored the Magic's first 11 points and Orlando emerged from a tight first quarter with a two-point lead.
The back-and-forth action continued early in the second, Detroit finally creating some separation behind a 17-point second-quarter outburst from Harris that helped the Pistons build a 60-49 lead at halftime.
Cunningham's floater, off a feed by Harris, pushed the Pistons' lead to 20 points early in the third quarter and they were in control the rest of the way.
The Magic cut a 25-point fourth-quarter deficit to 14 with 4:22 to play only for Detroit to pull away again.
A. Martins--JDB
