NBA Playoff Bracket 2026, Updated Picture, Schedule As Pistons, Raptors Avoid Elimination
The No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons held off postseason elimination by defeating the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic 93-79 on the road Friday. The two teams will now play a winner-take-all Game 7 on Sunday in Detroit.
The No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors did the same as R.J. Barrett hit a game-winning three-pointer that bounded off the back rim, straight up in the air and through the net with 1.2 seconds remaining in overtime for the 112-110 home win over the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers.
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The No. 4 seed Los Angeles Lakers are currently look to advance to the second round in their road matchup against the No. 5 seed Houston Rockets.
Here's a look at how everything went down.
Friday Schedule and Results
Pistons 93, Magic 79 (Series tied 3-3)
Raptors 112, Cavaliers 110 (Series tied 3-3)
Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets (Lakers lead series 3-2)
Saturday Schedule
Philadelphia 76ers at Boston Celtics, 7:30 p.m. ET (Series tied 3-3)
Friday Highlights
Pistons 93, Magic 79
The Magic led this game by 24 points early in the third quarter, but they couldn't even score 24 points in the second half overall as the offense went historically quiet en route to an astonishing 93-79 loss to Detroit.
In fact, they scored just 19 points in the final 24 minutes. Orlando had 11 points in the third quarter and followed that up with just one point in the first seven-plus minutes of the fourth quarter. The Magic didn't make a field goal in the final quarter until Paolo Banchero dunked the ball with 2:24 left in regulation.
The Pistons' defense certainly had a lot to do with Orlando's struggles, and the offense did well enough to take advantage of the slump and put this game away. Cade Cunningham posted 32 points, 10 rebounds, four steals and two blocks. Tobias Harris added 22 points.
Banchero scored 17 points, but he shot just 4-of-20 and missed all nine of his three-pointers. Jalen Suggs went 1-of-10 (seven points). Desmond Bane scored 17 points (7-of-18 shooting), but the Pistons outscored the Magic by 27 with him on the floor.
Simply put, this was a tough night for the Magic's top players as they struggled without forward Franz Wagner, who missed his second straight game with a right calf strain.
Now Detroit, which was down three games to one, will look to cap the comeback on Sunday at home.
Raptors 112, Cavaliers 110 (OT)
Scottie Barnes had 25 points and 14 assists and Barrett and Ja'Kobe Walter scored 24 points apiece as the Raptors forced the third Game 7 in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Barnes also had seven rebounds, three steals and three blocks to lead the Raptors, who persevered through an ugly offensive fourth quarter (12 points) to emerge with the win after leading nearly all game.
Cavs big man Evan Mobley forced overtime after hitting a shot with 11.6 seconds left. In OT, Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell put his team up 110-108 with 33.7 seconds left. Raptors guard Jamal Shead then got fouled but only hit one-of-two free throws. The Raptors played great defense and forced a turnover off Mobley and out-of-bounds, though, giving Toronto one last chance.
Barrett took advantage with a miracle three that may have brought back memories of Kawhi Leonard's 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals-winning shot against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 for a 92-90 win at the buzzer. That baseline jumper bounced high in the air then around the rim before falling in.
That Raptors team, of course, ended up winning the franchise's first-ever NBA title. This Toronto team is hoping to stay alive in a quest for its second-ever Larry O'Brien Trophy. Game 7 takes place on Sunday in Cleveland.
This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.
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