ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic were flying high. Up by 24 points early in the third quarter of Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons, they looked poised to clinch their first playoff series win in 16 years. Then, in a stunning turn of events, the Magic collapsed, handing the Pistons a historic 93-79 victory on Friday night.
The Magic built their biggest lead of the game at 62-38 just 49 seconds into the third quarter, thanks to a reverse layup by Desmond Bane. They tacked on eight more points to go up 70-54 with 4 minutes, 14 seconds left in the period, courtesy of a 3-pointer from Anthony Black. But then, the unthinkable happened: Orlando went ice cold, missing their next 23 shots from the field—a drought that stretched an agonizing 45 minutes in real time. According to ESPN Insights, those 23 consecutive misses are the most by any playoff team this century.
Detroit, trailing 3-2 in the series entering Friday, capitalized in spectacular fashion. The Pistons orchestrated the largest comeback by a road team facing elimination since the 1996-97 season, and the biggest in franchise history, surpassing a 19-point rally in 2007. The final score: Pistons 93, Magic 79, but the numbers tell only part of the story.
"You got to wash it," Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said after the game. "You got to learn from it. You got to go get Game 7. You got to do it the hard way. We've been in Game 7 before, and we understand what this looks like on the road, the magnitude of it. ... You got up big, so you know what you're capable of doing, but you've got to wash it, learn from it and then go figure out a way to do it the hard way in Detroit."
The Magic's first-half performance was nothing short of dominant. They held a commanding 60-38 lead at halftime after outscoring the Pistons 35-12 in the second quarter—arguably their most efficient 12 minutes of the entire series. Orlando shot 56.1% from the field in the first half while limiting Detroit to 40% overall. But the second half was a different story entirely.
Detroit outscored the Magic 55-19 after the break, including a staggering 31-8 edge in the fourth quarter. Orlando missed their final seven shots of the game, sealing a collapse that will be remembered for years. The Pistons, meanwhile, made history: they are the first team in NBA playoff history to overcome a 20-point halftime deficit while facing elimination.
For fans and players alike, this game is a stark reminder that in the playoffs, no lead is safe. As the Magic head to Detroit for Game 7, they'll need to channel the energy of that blistering first half—and forget the nightmare of the second.