Cade Cunningham scored 32 points and handed out 12 assists
\n LOS ANGELE
\nThe Detroit Pistons routed the Orlando Magic 116-94 on Sunday to cap a remarkable NBA playoff comeback and book an Eastern Conference semi-final clash with Cleveland.
\nCade 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.
\nIn Cleveland, the Cavaliers weathered a hot start from Toronto to beat the Raptors 114-102 and secure a 4-3 win in a series in which the home team won every game. 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.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s great,\u201d Cunningham said after the Pistons became the 15th team to climb out of a 3-1 hole \u2014 one day after the Philadelphia 76ers accomplished the feat against Boston.
\n\u201cWe had a great regular season, we built a lot of momentum going into these playoffs,\u201d Cunningham said. \u201cTo lose in the first round would have really stung.
\n\u201cTo come back from 3-1, odds against us, and to come back and win it at home \u2014 it feels good.\u201d
\nDetroit had already fended off elimination with victories in games five and six against the Magic \u2014 erasing a 24-point deficit on Friday to force Sunday\u2019s decider.
\nIt\u2019s 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.
\n\u201cThey really pushed us to the limit,\u201d Cunningham said. \u201cWe\u2019ve grown a lot because of this series, because of that team.\u201d
\nPaolo Banchero scored 38 points with nine rebounds and six assists for Orlando but got precious little scoring support.
\nBanchero scored the Magic\u2019s first 11 points and Orlando emerged from a tight first quarter with a two-point lead.
\nThe back-and-forth action continued early in the second, Detroit finally creating some separation behind a 17-point second-quarter outburst from Harris.
\nThey led 60-49 at halftime and pushed their lead to as many as 25, taking full advantage of 16 Magic turnovers that led to 19 Pistons points.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re excited for what\u2019s to come,\u201d Cunningham said. \u201cWe want to win games, win series and (our) ultimate goal is a championship.\u201d
\nThat quest continues with game one against Cleveland on Tuesday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cade Cunningham scored 32 points and handed out 12 assists LOS ANGELE The Detroit Pistons routed the Orlando Magic 116-94 on Sunday to cap a remarkable NBA playoff comeback and book an Eastern Conference semi-final clash with Cleveland. Cade Cunningham scored 32 points and handed out 12 assists and Tobias Harris added 30 points with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":544749,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-544734","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n