The Detroit Pistons bounced back into the win column with a 116-109 victory over the Orlando Magic in game five on Wednesday night
After the Detroit Pistons’ 116-109 victory over the Orlando Magic in game five on Wednesday, the Eastern Conference’s one seed still has a lifeline to cling to in the postseason. Not every element of the Pistons’ seven-point win over the Magic was clean, but Detroit improved enough in multiple key areas to swing the series momentum back in their favor.
Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham cut down on his turnovers while posting a franchise-record 45-point game in the postseason, and Detroit attacked the offensive boards much more aggressively and effectively in the do-or-die playoff contest. Along those lines, Pistons wing Ausar Thompson was quite literally all over the court with one of the most wide-reaching stat lines of the 2026 NBA Playoffs so far.
To help push the series to 3-2, Thompson was an aerial menace with a one-track mind focused on grabbing rebounds against the Magic last night. Thompson procured 15 rebounds, four of which came from the offensive glass, in a dynamic performance that helped keep the Pistons’ playoff hopes alive. But Thompson was more than just a rebounding threat against Orlando, and the third-year forward finished with six points, six assists, five steals and two blocks when game five’s final buzzer sounded.
“He was great,” Cunningham said of Thompson after the game. “He’s a great player, and that’s what we need from him. Him imposing himself on the series, him imposing himself on the game like he did, he’s shown that he’s beyond capable of that. So, we needed it tonight.”
Though most frequently lauded for his defensive tenacity, Thompson ramped up his rebounding determination several octaves while still bringing the same defensive pressure on both Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs that contributed to somewhat middling scoring performances from the Magic guard pair.
“It was win or go home, so we had to lock in on the details, do what we’re supposed to do everyday and be the team we know that we are,” Thompson said. “I don’t think we’ve been that the first four games of the series, but tonight was a little glimpse of it and we’ve just got to keep stacking.”
From an offensive perspective, the Pistons have clocked Orlando’s tendency to leave Thompson open near the perimeter, so Detroit has worked to find different ways to keep the speedy, spring-loaded wing engaged and involved when his team has the basketball. In doing so, Thompson has worked to stay active as a connector when working with Cunningham to keep the Detroit offense humming.
“Trying to find the open spot, be more aggressive and if he steps back up, possibly hit JD, but just being available at all times, giving Cade an outlet,” Thompson said. “He does so much for us, so I’ve got to help him out, especially when they send two at him. I’ve got to be a weapon.”
While Thompson feels a personal responsibility to contribute to the Pistons’ success on both ends of the court, he was not even remotely incorrect regarding his assessment of Detroit’s All-star point guard after his 45-point effort to extend the series.
“He’s one of the best players I’ve ever seen,” Thompson said. “It’s an honor to play with him every night and learn from him and get better with him, but these things don’t surprise me. This is what he does. He’s that guy.”
The Orlando Magic took the floor without the services of Franz Wagner for game five, so Cunningham was able to take advantage of a smaller Jamal Cain at the point of attack, and this matchup alteration seemed to pay dividends for Detroit last night. Cunningham was able to access the second level and elevate for his mid-range jumpers with less restriction without Wagner in the lineup.
In terms of the Pistons’ approach moving forward, the stakes could not be more simple. Detroit needs to keep winning in order to advance in the playoffs, and that starts with a victory on the road in game six on Friday.
“Hit ‘em first,” Thompson said of Detroit’s gameplan. “I feel like the first two times we were in Orlando, they hit us first. They got up to a double-digit lead, and we had to fight back the whole game. So, we’ve got to hit ‘em first, and we’ve got to be the aggressors. We’ve just gotta do what we do, man.”
Tip-off for game six is scheduled for 7 pm on Friday, May 1 down in Orlando at the Kia Center.
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