We tasked our staffers with Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic predictions in a first-round series to start the 2026 NBA playoffs.

The teams surprisingly split the season series, 2-2, with Orlando winning April 6 at home, 123-107. But the Pistons were down three starters in that one, including Cade Cunningham.

Orlando had to play twice in the play-in tournament just to get here. The 1-seed Pistons are heavy favorites against the 8-seed Magic in a duel with each franchise looking for its first playoff series win in more than 15 years.

Here's how our eight writers see the best-of-seven series playing out:

Don’t let Detroit’s 2-2 record against Orlando this season fool you into thinking the Magic have a chance. Orlando is limping into the postseason after losing 10 of its past 18 games, and it’s hard to see the Magic taking even a game from a well-rested, motivated Pistons squad. The pick: Pistons in 4.

10. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks. Stats: 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists.The buzz: It hasn't been KAT's best year, with his scoring down over four points per game, but he's still a weapon on offense that stretches any defense. Look no further than what he did to the Pistons last playoffs, hitting big shots when it mattered most.

9. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors.Stats: 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists.The buzz: It's fitting Barnes is blocking a shot in his photo, as he's on the list for his overall play and not necessarily his scoring. Barnes is a vital piece of a Raptors squad that has overachieved, finishing fifth in the East. He gets a lot of credit for that.

8. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons.Stats: 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2 assists.The buzz: The stats aren't as strong as KAT's, but they're close, which combined with the eye test, gives Duren the edge. The fourth-year big man has become an absolute force and constantly gives the Pistons a physical edge on both ends of the floor. He's still a work in progress, but his value to the Pistons is immense.

7. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks.Stats: 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists.The buzz: Breakout year doesn't do Johnson's 2025-26 season justice. He showed signs he could be this player last year, but played in just 36 games. With Trae Young shipped out, Johnson has taken the leap and shown he can be the best player on a good team.

6. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers. Stats: 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 6.6 assists.The buzz: Maxey gets better every years, and that's not an exaggeration. He's improved his scoring and assist marks each and every season and with a diminished (and often absent) Joel Embiid, Maxey carried the team for most of the year.

5. Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics.Stats: 21.8 points, 10 rebounds, 5.3 assists.The buzz: Fresh off arguably the most serious injury a basketball player can have, Tatum is already a top-5 player again in the East. His stats haven't reach pre-Achilles injury level yet, but if you didn't know about the injury and watched him play, you wouldn't even be able to notice. This is a projection he takes the training wheels off and is back to himself almost-fully for the playoffs.

4. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers. Stats: 27.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists.The buzz: In any given playoff game, Mitchell might be the best player. He's an unbelievable scorer and a good enough playmaker to keep you honest. If the Cavs make a run, Mitchell will be the engine driving them there.

3. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics.Stats: 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists.The buzz: Brown was the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP in 2024, but is somehow still proving himself. With the Celtics counted out by many before the season after Tatum went down last year and the team made roster moves to save salary, Brown quickly showed he was good enough to carry a team. He should finish top-5 in the league in the MVP race, which means he's certainly one of the five best players in the East, even if there are two players ahead of him.

2. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks.Stats: 26 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists.The buzz: Throw the regular season stats out the window (though those are pretty good too). Jalen Brunson is a totally different animal in the postseason. Brunson has played 42 playoff games with the Knicks and averages an impressive 29.9 points per game on 46% from the field and just wins. You just don't want to see him in the playoffs.

1. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons. Stats: 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 9.9 assists.The buzz: The best player in the East plays in Detroit. At least the one we'd take first if we had the pick. Cade is a one-man offense, capable of scoring at all three levels and setting up teammates to do so as well. On defense, unlike some other players on this list, he's a plus thanks to his above-average size for the point guard position and generally good effort. Cunningham showed flashes of the player he can be after a tough Game 1 vs. Knicks last year, and has an opportunity to show the East goes through Detroit for years to come with a dominant run.

1 / 10Who are the 10 best players in Eastern Conference NBA playoffs?10. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks. Stats: 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists.The buzz: It hasn't been KAT's best year, with his scoring down over four points per game, but he's still a weapon on offense that stretches any defense. Look no further than what he did to the Pistons last playoffs, hitting big shots when it mattered most.

10. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks. Stats: 20.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists.The buzz: It hasn't been KAT's best year, with his scoring down over four points per game, but he's still a weapon on offense that stretches any defense. Look no further than what he did to the Pistons last playoffs, hitting big shots when it mattered most.

9. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors.Stats: 18.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists.The buzz: It's fitting Barnes is blocking a shot in his photo, as he's on the list for his overall play and not necessarily his scoring. Barnes is a vital piece of a Raptors squad that has overachieved, finishing fifth in the East. He gets a lot of credit for that.

8. Jalen Duren, Detroit Pistons.Stats: 19.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2 assists.The buzz: The stats aren't as strong as KAT's, but they're close, which combined with the eye test, gives Duren the edge. The fourth-year big man has become an absolute force and constantly gives the Pistons a physical edge on both ends of the floor. He's still a work in progress, but his value to the Pistons is immense.

7. Jalen Johnson, Atlanta Hawks.Stats: 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists.The buzz: Breakout year doesn't do Johnson's 2025-26 season justice. He showed signs he could be this player last year, but played in just 36 games. With Trae Young shipped out, Johnson has taken the leap and shown he can be the best player on a good team.