The Orlando Magic stunned the top-seeded Detroit Pistons with a 112-101 Game 1 win in Detroit despite 39 points from Cade Cunningham. Below is what you should know from the win:

After going 0-8 in road playoff games under coach Jamahl Mosley, the Magic finally broke through.

Additionally, they kept the Pistons from ever taking the lead, marking the first time in the play-by-play era (since 1997-98) the No. 1 seed did not hold a lead at any point in their playoff opener.

When it comes to postseason play, Paolo Banchero has proven time and time again to live up to the moment.

After an efficient and aggressive 25-point performance helped his team reach the playoffs in a blowout win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday, Banchero kept his foot on the gas heading into Little Caesars Arena against the Pistons.

Banchero notched 23 points on 53.3% shooting from the field and 50% shooting from 3-point range while grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out four assists. He found a way to score at all three levels and made the most of his turnaround mid-range jump shots. 

After finishing sixth in playoff scoring average a year ago, Banchero demonstrated a strong start to his third postseason in his first four years in the NBA.

The NBA is a game of runs, and that slogan rang true throughout the evening in Detroit.

The Magic and the Pistons reached the apex of their battle in the final 12 minutes of the contest, as each team successfully mounted runs. Before the series began, Mosley said it would be a dog fight, and Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said it would be a war of attrition.

The Magic won that war on Sunday, and much of it was thanks to the play of Franz Wagner in the final minutes.

Wagner scored 11 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter and helped his team to a 6-for-6 start in the final period as he continued to protect the Magic’s lead each time the Pistons would convert a successful offensive possession. 

Wagner fought his way into the paint with opposing bodies colliding with him and, despite continuing to work his way back to complete form after missing most of a four-month period with a left ankle injury, put his body on the line when his team needed him, especially as Banchero went scoreless in the fourth.

Much like Banchero, Wagner has proved last season he can score at a high level in the postseason; finishing ninth in playoff scoring average during the 2024-25 playoffs despite the Magic losing in the first round to the Boston Celtics in five games.

Ahead of Sunday’s Game 1, Jalen Suggs talked about how much fun it is to face a Pistons team that possesses a level of physicality akin to Orlando’s.

From the opening tip, Suggs proved how ready he was to meet the moment with intensity and aggression.

Suggs opened the scoring for Orlando with back-to-back 3-pointers before turning a steal into a transition dunk. Despite going cold from the perimeter after his hot start, Suggs went into the half with 11 points, three steals and a block.

Suggs continued to make an impact throughout the game, and after a long stretch of being unsuccessful from the perimeter, he hit a clutch three in the fourth after Detroit cut Orlando’s lead to four points.

Suggs ended up fouling out of the game with 01:33 to play, and he concluded his night with 16 points, three steals and a block.

While Banchero, Wagner and Suggs were at the forefront of the Magic’s win, the play of Wendell Carter Jr. and Tristan da Silva cannot be overstated.

Carter finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds while going 8-9 from the field and 1-2 from beyond the arc. He continued to battle down low and was largely responsible for Orlando’s 20-point advantage in the paint. He also logged five assists, two steals and a block while only picking up one personal foul.

Da Silva scored seven points off the bench, five of which came as the clock continued to wind down in the fourth quarter. He also had four rebounds, two of which came on the offensive glass.

The Magic will return to action in Game 2 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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