Pistons and Raptors stay alive, Lakers advance in NBA playoffs

Top seed Detroit Pistons escaped elimination with a stunning comeback against the Orlando Magic, while the Los Angeles Lakers finally overcame the Houston Rockets in their decisive third game of the NBA playoff round.

The Pistons’ come-from-behind victory on Friday forced a Game 7 decider in the series against the Magic. The Toronto Raptors also set up a decisive game with the Cleveland Cavaliers after a nail-biting overtime win.

Leading Detroit 3-2 in the series and seeking a clinching win, Orlando had built a 24-point lead before their shooting suddenly collapsed, and the Pistons seized the opportunity.

Orlando was stunned when they missed 23 consecutive shots — the longest streak in playoff history — and scored just one point in over 10 minutes of play, allowing the Pistons to win 93-79.

“Never give up, it’s that simple. I want to say, the Detroit spirit, that’s what we’ve been saying all year,” said Cade Cunningham of Detroit, who led all scorers with 32 points and 10 rebounds.

After trailing 3-1 in the series, the Pistons seemed destined to become the seventh top seed in NBA history to lose in the first round to the bottom seed. But now they have a chance to win the series at home in Detroit on Sunday.

After a balanced first quarter, Orlando erupted, before the pressure of closing out their first playoff series since 2010 seemed to take hold. Jeers rang out as a 71-54 Magic lead turned into an 80-72 lead for Detroit. The Pistons, dominant in the regular season, are now favorites to win their first playoff series since 2008.

“Thank God we can take this game home. Detroit will be loud, and we have to get the job done,” said Cunningham, who scored 19 points in the fourth quarter.

Raptors send Cavs to Game 7

If Detroit advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, they will face either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Toronto Raptors, whose series is also tied 3-3 after Toronto’s overtime victory.

Playing at home, the Raptors led most of the way before the Cavaliers rallied in the fourth quarter to set up a tense finish. Leading by two points with less than a minute left, Toronto gave Cleveland a chance with a shot-clock violation. Evan Mobley drove past the Raptors’ defense to tie the game at 104-104, and Toronto’s Jamal Shead nearly missed a desperation shot at the end of regulation.

In overtime, Cleveland took a one-point lead in the final seconds. But a three-point attempt by RJ Barrett bounced off the rim, hung in the air, and fell through the net, securing the win for Toronto. “Thank God, man. I didn’t score in the fourth quarter, the overtime, I was playing badly… thank God, I made that shot,” Barrett said. Game 7 is scheduled for Sunday in Cleveland.

‘A closing situation’

The Lakers, after taking a 3-0 lead over Houston, had wobbled twice as the Rockets fought back to 3-2. But LeBron James’s team closed out the series with a comfortable 98-78 win to advance to the Western Conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning NBA champions.

James led all scorers with 28 points, along with 8 assists and 7 rebounds, continuing his impressive form at age 41. The victory spared the Lakers embarrassment. A loss would have left them one defeat away from becoming the first team in NBA history to waste a 3-0 playoff advantage. “A lot of our guys haven’t been in this position, haven’t been in a closing situation, especially on the road, so it was important for me to go out there and set the tone,” James said.