Magic take 3-1 series lead, have No. 1 seed Pistons on the brink of elimination: Takeaways

Atlantic76ersCelticsKnicksNetsRaptorsCentralBucksBullsCavaliersPacersPistonsSoutheastHawksHeatHornetsMagicWizardsSouthwestGrizzliesMavericksPelicansRocketsSpursNorthwestJazzNuggetsThunderTimberwolvesTrail BlazersPacificClippersKingsLakersSunsWarriorsScores & ScheduleStandingsThe Bounce NewsletterNBA DraftPodcastsFantasyNBA OddsNBA PicksWhat Makes Up Championship DNA?Hollinger's Playoff PreviewPlayer Poll: Who is the MVP?Player Poll: Who Will Win Title?NBA Playoffs Orlando's Paolo Banchero had 18 points in the Magic's Game 4 win over Cade Cunningham and the Pistons. Fernando Medina / NBAE via Getty Images Share article3The Orlando Magic defeated the Detroit Pistons 94-88 to take a 3-1 series lead and move one win away from becoming the seventh No. 8 seed in NBA history to beat a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. Orlando rode a balanced scoring effort from Desmond Bane (22 points), Franz Wagner (19), Paolo Banchero (18) and Wendell Carter Jr. (12)  in a gritty Game 4 win that saw the Magic force 20 Detroit turnovers. Here are takeaways from Josh Robbins and Hunter Patterson. This series remains far from over, even though the Magic won Game 4 and now lead 3-1. But the Magic have put themselves in an enviable position. History has shown it’s extraordinarily difficult to come back from a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven NBA playoff series. According to the NBA and Land of Basketball, teams that have taken 3-1 leads in best-of-seven playoff series have gone on to win the series 285 times and gone on to lose only 13 times. The news isn’t all good for Orlando. Wagner, who was the Magic’s best player for much of Monday’s game, scoring 19 points in 24 minutes, missed the entire fourth quarter with what Magic officials described as right calf soreness. The severity of the injury is unclear, but if he cannot play or be effective in Game 5, it’s difficult to envision the Magic defeating the Pistons in Detroit. Still, with Monday’s victory, the Magic have improved to 8-1 in home postseason games under Jamahl Mosley: 2-0 all time in the Play-In Tournament, 3-0 in 2024’s first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers, 1-1 in last spring’s first-round series against the Boston Celtics and now 2-0 in this series against the Pistons. The Kia Center was loud Monday, especially early in the game as the Pistons committed seven quick turnovers to help Orlando take a 17-5 lead. The crowd was superb again late, helping the Magic eke out a tight game in the fourth quarter. Game 6, if necessary, will be held back in Orlando. — Josh Robbins For all the good Cade Cunningham has provided in this series, the turnovers have been equally demoralizing. He has 17 turnovers to 15 assists over the last two losses, and many of them have been avoidable. Cunningham spoke after Game 3 about his need to better organize his group, and Monday night he was too careless with the ball. Four of his eight turnovers came during the first quarter and contributed to the early 12-point hole the Pistons were forced to dig themselves out of. Also, Isaiah Stewart has been far too valuable this series to play only 17 minutes. He managed a career-high eight blocks, altered several shots and helped spread the floor offensively for Detroit thanks to the threat of his 3-point ability. Stewart was a plus-three in his minutes on the floor and forced Orlando to guard the Pistons differently. It may be time for Detroit to consider a lineup change in Game 5, given how impactful Stewart has been. — Hunter Patterson Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms