This is the best Chase Elliott has looked this early and there's more to come
Chase Elliott shines early in NASCAR season with two wins!
The Detroit Pistons advanced after defeating the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7, overcoming a 3-1 series deficit. Cade Cunningham expressed pride in the team's performance.
The Detroit Pistons didnât just advance Sunday night. They revealed exactly who they are.
After dismantling the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena, completing a stunning comeback from a 3-1 series deficit, the tone inside Detroitâs locker room wasnât just relief. It was pride.
And Cade Cunningham made it clear why.
Cade Cunningham All-NBA contract Cade Cunningham Texas Rangers Cade Cunningham injury Cade Cunningham Detroit Pistons Game 7
For Cunningham, the road to this moment mattered just as much as the result.
âWe feel like weâve overcome a lot to get to where we are right now,â Cunningham said after the game. âWe bond over that in the room. We bond over being dawgs and working through any situation.â
That identity was tested early and often in the series.
The Pistons, the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, found themselves down 3-1 against a physical Orlando team that refused to back down. Instead of unraveling, Detroit leaned into the challenge.
âBeing down has made us bond over that again and brought us tighter,â Cunningham added.
It showed on the floor.
Cunningham didnât just talk about resilience. He embodied it.
The All-Star guard delivered a masterful performance in Game 7, finishing with 32 points and 12 assists while controlling every aspect of the game. He dictated pace, found teammates in rhythm, and attacked when the Pistons needed a bucket.
The Pistons defeated the Magic 116-94 in Game 7.
The Pistons completed a stunning comeback by winning three consecutive games after being down 3-1 in the series.
Cade Cunningham conveyed a message of pride regarding the team's performance and resilience.
The Pistons played Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena.
Chase Elliott shines early in NASCAR season with two wins!
Montreal Canadiens win Game 7 against Lightning with only nine shots on goal!
Clay's baseball team wins 8-1 over Escambia in rare Sunday playoff game
Join the Canes Country Playoff Pickâem Contest 2026 for Round 2!
Celtics' Jaylen Brown criticizes Sixers' Joel Embiid for flopping in playoffs
James Harden shines as Cavaliers crush Raptors in Game 7
See every story in Sports â including breaking news and analysis.
More importantly, he never looked rattled.
Detroit outscored Orlando 40-27 in the second quarter and maintained control the rest of the way, turning what could have been a tense finish into a runaway win.
That composure starts with Cunningham.
There was also a sense of humor and perspective in Cunninghamâs postgame comments.
After surviving a seven-game battle, he acknowledged what everyone was thinking.
âI think itâs a good format the NBA has, only seven games in a series,â he said with a smile. âThey were a great opponent for us.â
It was a nod to how taxing the series had become, both physically and mentally.
But Cunningham didnât linger on the grind.
âIâm excited for whatâs to come. First playoff win, I want to get plenty more.â
That mindset is exactly what Detroit needs moving forward.
Cade Cunningham on his relief to not be playing an 8th game against Magic: "I think itâs a good format the NBA has â only seven games in a series. They were a great opponent for us."
"I'm excited for whatâs to come. First playoff win â I want to get plenty more." pic.twitter.com/T9JA2W4hEw
â 97.1 The Ticket: (@971theticketxyt) May 3, 2026
The Pistons didnât just win a series. They built something in the process.
Cunningham, Tobias Harris, and Jalen Duren led the way statistically, while players like Ausar Thompson filled in the margins with defense and energy. Together, they formed a team that now understands what it takes to respond under pressure.
The adversity didnât break them. It sharpened them.
Now, Detroit moves on with confidence, chemistry, and a belief that extends beyond one round.
If Cunninghamâs words are any indication, the Pistons arenât satisfied.
Theyâre just getting started.