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Detroit Pistons to face Orlando Magic in 2026 NBA playoffs first round
TL;DR
The Detroit Pistons will host the Orlando Magic in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs, starting on April 19 at 6:30 p.m. NBC will broadcast the game. The Magic secured their spot by defeating the Hornets in the play-in tournament.
Key points
- Detroit Pistons will host Orlando Magic
- First round of 2026 NBA playoffs
- Game starts on April 19 at 6:30 p.m.
- Magic defeated Hornets in play-in tournament
Detroit PistonsOrlando MagicNBA playoffs
The Detroit Pistons' first playoff opponent has been set.
They will host the Orlando Magic when the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs tips off on Sunday, April 19 (6:30 p.m., NBC) The Magic defeated the Hornets in the Eastern Conference 8-seed game in the play-in tournament on Friday.
Orlando Magic forward Tristan da Silva (23) drives around Detroit Pistons guard Kevin Huerter (27) during the first quarter at Kia Center in Orlando on Monday, April 6, 2026.
BREAKING DOWN THE SERIES: 3 questions for Pistons ahead of NBA playoffs vs Magic, prediction
The top-seeded Pistons are marching into the playoffs with a 60-22 record – the third-best in franchise history – and winners of 15 of their final 19 regular-season games. They split the season series with the Magic, 2-2 (though one of the games came in NBA Cup play).
Detroit took games in October and March, and Orlando won in November (in the NBA Cup tournament) and April. Their most recent matchup came on April 6, as the Magic prevailed, 123-107, over a Pistons lineup that was missing Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris. Desmond Bane, picked up in the offseason from Memphis, did most of the damage for the Magic, as he averaged 22.8 points, five rebounds and three assists. That included a 37-point outing on Nov. 28 in Detroit in which he shot 13-for-25 at Little Caesars Arena.
Q&A
When do the Detroit Pistons play the Orlando Magic in the 2026 NBA playoffs?
The Pistons will face the Magic on April 19, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
How did the Orlando Magic qualify for the 2026 NBA playoffs?
The Magic qualified by defeating the Hornets in the Eastern Conference 8-seed game during the play-in tournament.
Where will the Pistons vs. Magic playoff game be held?
The game will be hosted at the Pistons' home arena.
