NBA playoffs winners and losers: Pistons survive after Magic collapse

NBA playoffs winners and losers: Pistons survive after Magic collapse

This was a pivotal night in the 2026 NBA playoffs.

The slate on Friday, May 1 saw three potential closeout games, which meant that three series could have ended tonight – or the same three series could continue with decisive Game 7s.

The Eastern Conference featured two games, with the No. 8 seed Orlando Magic seeking to knock out the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, while the No. 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers looked end the season of the No. 5 seed Toronto Raptors. In the Western Conference, the Houston Rockets hosted the Los Angeles Lakers in a Game 6 showdown.

The night started with chaos, with the Pistons completing an improbable comeback. Conversely, depending on your perspective, the Magic fell apart in an epic meltdown.

Here are the winners and losers from Friday night in the NBA playoffs:

NBA PLAYOFF BRACKET: Scores and schedules from all first-round series

Moondog performs during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena.

A member of the Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team performs during a time out during the second half of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.

Cleveland Brows player Myles Garrett riles up the crowd during the first half of game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.

A fan waves a towel during the second half of game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.

Fans arrive to watch warmups before game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena.

1 / 5

NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy

Moondog performs during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena.

1 / 5

NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy

Moondog performs during the first quarter of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors at Rocket Arena.

2 / 5

NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy

A member of the Cleveland Cavaliers Scream Team performs during a time out during the second half of game one in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.

3 / 5

NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy

Cleveland Brows player Myles Garrett riles up the crowd during the first half of game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.

4 / 5

NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy

A fan waves a towel during the second half of game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena.

5 / 5

NBA playoffs fans, dancers, cheerleaders and mascots bring the energy

Fans arrive to watch warmups before game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs between the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena.

WINNERS

Cade Cunningham

Once again, the Detroit Pistons were carried by their All-Star and Most Valuable Player candidate. Cunningham dropped 32 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists in another masterpiece. Nineteen of those points came in the fourth quarter. And as the Pistons started to overwhelm Orlando with their defense, Cunningham was an integral part in that, leading with effort and intensity.

Cunningham led the largest come-from-behind victory (24 points) for a road team facing elimination since the 1996-97 season.

LOSERS

The Orlando Magic may have just given away a chance at history

This looked like a team that simply gave up. The Magic collapsed Friday night, blowing a 24-point lead before losing by 14. And with that, the Magic have now lost two consecutive closeout games and face a daunting Game 7 against the No. 1 seeded Pistons in Detroit. This was an epic implosion, one that feels insurmountable.

During a span that stretched back to late in the third quarter, the Magic missed 23 consecutive shots. In the fourth quarter alone, they shot 1-of-20, which is a remarkably abysmal 5% (!). That followed a third quarter in which they scored just 11 points. They failed to crack 20 … in the entire second half.

The Magic entered the night looking to be just the seventh No. 8 seed in NBA history to topple a No. 1. Instead, it feels like Orlando just gave this series away.

Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley

If there were calls for him to be fired, they’re only going to grow stronger. There were many people to blame for this colossal meltdown. The Magic were far too carless with the ball and lazy passes were sniped for easy steals. Shot selection devolved late in the game as did decision making and effort.

But Mosley enabled this collapse by failing to halt the avalanche. As Detroit ramped up its defense, the Magic shrunk. Mosley didn’t do enough to call timeouts to stop the bleeding. His poor game management and inability to draw up plays to facilitate easier offense are the main culprits for this loss. As mentioned above, it may have just cost Orlando the series.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Magic collapse, Pistons prevail in NBA playoffs winner, losers tonight