Magic win pushes Pistons to brink of NBA playoff ouster

TL;DR

The Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 94-88, pushing Detroit to the brink of playoff elimination. With a 3-1 series lead, the Magic can eliminate the Pistons in the next game on Wednesday.

Key points

Orlando Magic won 94-88 against Detroit Pistons
Magic lead series 3-1 and can eliminate Pistons next game
Desmond Bane scored 22 points for the Magic

Orlando MagicDetroit PistonsOklahoma City ThunderMinnesota Timberwolves

Desmond Bane, left, scored 22 points and Paolo Banchero, right, added 18 for the Orlando Magic in an NBA playoff victory over Detroit (Gregory Shamus) (Gregory Shamus/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/Getty Images via AFP) Desmond Bane scored 22 points to lead the upstart Orlando Magic over top seed Detroit 94-88 on Monday, pushing the Pistons to the brink of NBA playoff elimination. Franz Wagner scored 19 points for Orlando before being benched with a sore right calf while Paolo Banchero added 18 and grabbed eight rebounds. The Magic seized a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference first-round series and can eliminate the Pistons on Wednesday in Detroit. The Pistons, whose 60-22 record topped the East, must win three in a row to avoid an epic upset defeat at the hands of Orlando, which was eighth this season at 45-37. Cade Cunningham led Detroit with 25 points while Tobias Harris added 20 for the Pistons, who committed 20 turnovers, twice as many as Orlando. The Magic have not reached the second round of the playoffs since 2010, dropping six series in the first round and missing the post-season nine times. The Pistons have not reached the second round since 2008, dropping four first-round matchups and missing the playoffs 13 times. Orlando seized a 19-7 edge but then missed 13 shots in a row as Detroit closed the first quarter on a 20-7 run for a 27-26 lead. The Magic closed the second quarter on a 17-6 run for a 54-52 halftime edge but Detroit stayed close into the fourth quarter. Bane banked in a three-point shot with 1:16 remaining to give the Magic a 92-86 lead and Orlando added late free throws to seal Detroit's fate, the Pistons going more than five minutes without a basket from the floor. In later games, the defending champion and the will try to become the first teams to advance to the second round of the NBA playoffs. The top-seeded Thunder, who boast the top scoring attack and defensive statistics in the NBA playoffs, have a 3-0 Western Conference series lead over Phoenix and hope to complete a sweep with a road victory. The T-Wolves visit with a 3-1 edge in their West matchup but will be without two top guards. will miss at least a week with a bone bruise and hyper-extended left knee while will miss the remainder of the playoffs with a ruptured right Achilles tendon. js/jgc

Q&A

What was the score of the Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons playoff game?

The Orlando Magic won the game 94-88 against the Detroit Pistons.

How many games do the Pistons need to win to avoid elimination in the playoffs?

The Pistons must win three consecutive games to avoid elimination in the playoffs.

Who led the scoring for the Orlando Magic in their playoff victory?

Desmond Bane led the scoring for the Orlando Magic with 22 points.