Pistons' Woes Continue: Orlando Breaks Detroit's Home Court in Playoff Opener

What appeared to be an upset on paper turned into a dominant display by the Florida team. Orlando controlled the game from the outset, never relinquishing their lead. This made Detroit the first top-seeded team in 27 years to never hold a lead during their opening playoff game.

The Detroit Pistons' last home playoff victory dates back to 2008 against Boston. Since then, they've endured a string of losses and eliminations without a single home win against Cleveland (2009 and 2016), Milwaukee (2019), and New York (2025). In their new arena, opened in 2017, the Pistons now hold a dismal 0-6 playoff record.

The visitors started with a furious pace, building a 13-point lead in the first quarter. The home team managed to rally, cutting the deficit to just four points by halftime (51:55). Detroit came closest to a comeback midway through the third period, tying the game at 65:65. However, Orlando responded with a swift 14-3 run, pulling away once more and calmly closing out the game.

For the Detroit team, Cade Cunningham shone with 39 points, marking his career playoff high. Tobias Harris provided support with 17 points, but the rest of the squad failed to make a significant contribution.

On the other side, Paolo Banchero led the winning team with 23 points. However, the key to the Magic's triumph lay in their collective play, evidenced by all five starters finishing the game with double-digit scoring.

Game two of this series is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22nd, once again in Detroit. The Pistons will have an opportunity to even the series before it shifts to Florida.