DETROIT – The top-seeded Detroit Pistons are one loss away from a stunning first-round exit after falling 94-88 to the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference opening round playoff series.
Detroit, which finished the regular season with a 60-22 record, now trails the best-of-seven series 3-1 and faces elimination in Game 5 on Wednesday (April 27) inside Little Caesars Arena.
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A loss would place the Pistons in rare and unwelcome company.
Only two teams in NBA history, the 2011 San Antonio Spurs and the 2007 Dallas Mavericks, have won at least 60 games and failed to advance past the first round, both losing in six games.
Detroit has struggled to find consistency throughout the series and has been largely outplayed by Orlando, aside from a strong third quarter in Game 2, its only win.
All-Star guard Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 25 points in Game 4 but continued to battle turnover issues.
Cunningham shot seven for 23 from the field and committed eight turnovers.
The trend has been costly.
Cunningham had nine turnovers in Game 3 and seven in Game 2, totaling 24 over the last three games.
According to ESPN, that marks the most turnovers in a three-game postseason span since the league began tracking the statistic in the 1977-78 season.
Center Jalen Duren finished with 12 points but had four turnovers and has struggled to make a consistent impact.
Orlando’s Wendell Carter Jr. has outplayed him through four games.
Veteran Tobias Harris added 20 points and six rebounds but missed all five of his 3-point attempts, including several open looks late as Detroit attempted to rally.
Michigan Wolverines alum Duncan Robinson scored seven points but shot just one for six from beyond the arc and was targeted defensively by Orlando.
As a team, Detroit struggled from long range in the second half, going one for 16 from three-point distance.
Despite the deficit, the Pistons can draw from franchise history.
In 2003, an Orlando team led by Tracy McGrady and coached by Doc Rivers took a 3-1 series lead over Detroit before the Pistons, led by Ben Wallace and Tayshaun Prince, rallied to win the series in seven games.
To avoid a similar fate in reverse, Detroit will need a sharper performance, and quickly.
Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. inside Little Caesars Arena.