The Detroit Pistons are looking to take the series lead.
The 1-seed Pistons play the 8-seed Orlando Magic in Game 3 in the 2026 NBA playoffs on Saturday, April 25, at Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. The game is streamed primarily on Peacock, with the game also available on NBCSN for some viewers.
The Pistons beat the Magic, 98-83, in Game 2 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Wednesday, April 22, tying the series at 1-1. That means this series is guaranteed to go at least five games, with a Game 5 return to Detroit on Wednesday, April 29.
Watch NBA playoffs on Peacock
Game 3 is the third in a best-of-seven series in the Eastern Conference, with the series winner advancing to the conference semifinals to face the winner of the series between the 4-seed Cleveland Cavaliers and 5-seed Toronto Raptors. The Cavs have a 2-1 lead in the series after the Raptors won, 126-104, in Game 3 on Thursday, April 23.
We’ll have all the live updates from Game 3 in Orlando right here.
Pistons vs Magic live updates in Game 3 of playoffs
Magic up at the half
HALFTIME: Magic 61, Pistons 54.
It has been somewhat of a defensive half so far, with both teams shooting under 50% for both quarters. But Orlando has advantages on free throws, 3-pointers, offensive rebounds and second-chance points.
Ausar Thompson leads all scorers with 15 points, with Magic guard Desmond Bane leading Orlando with 14. Pistons star Cade Cunningham has just eight points on 3-for-10 shooting, with Orlando’s defense clamping down well on Cunningham. The Magic had an 11-point lead with just over a minute left in the half, but key free throws brought the Pistons to within seven points just before the buzzer.
But in the final seconds of the half, Pistons center Isaiah Stewart threw Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. to the floor, leading to the referees conferring and ultimately deciding not to give Stewart a flagrant. Had they given him a second flagrant, Stewart would have been ejected.
Isaiah Stewart called for questionable flagrant foul
2Q, 4:26: Magic 50, Pistons 43.
Magic shooters kept finding buckets, though the Pistons kept pace with two free throws from forward Tobias Harris and a put-back dunk from forward Ausar Thompson. Pistons center Isaiah Stewart was then called for a flagrant foul on a Jalen Suggs layup attempt, a questionable call that had even Peacock’s broadcasters confused. Suggs nailed both the free-throw attempts, but the Magic couldn’t extend the lead with the possession they got back.
Reportedly, Pistons legend Rick Mahorn called the flagrant foul call “bull—-” on the radio call. It is unclear if Mahorn will also get a flagrant foul for language (kidding).
Orlando is up by seven points as time winds down in the first half.
Magic finding ways to score
2Q, 6:49: Magic 42, Pistons 36.
Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins scored Detroit’s first two baskets of the quarter, a layup out of the break to tie the game at 28-28 and a 3-pointer a minute later to give Detroit a 1-point lead. Forward Tobias Harris got an and-one layup on the next possession, giving the Pistons a 4-point lead, and then followed with a thunderous fastbreak dunk two possessions later.
No Piston has double figures in scoring so far. Meanwhile, Magic guard Desmond Bane has shot 4-for-4 from 3-point land, giving him a game-high 14 points.
Detroit is locking down the paint better, already with six blocks in the game so far (Jalen Duren with three of them and Ausar Thompson with two). But the Magic have a big advantage over the Pistons on free throws (8-to-2) and second-chance points (9-to-3) as they open up a 6-point lead.
Pistons and Magic tied after one quarter
End 1Q: Pistons 26, Magic 26.
Pistons star Cade Cunningham crossed up Magic star Paolo Banchero on the way to an and-one layup to tie the game at 21-21. Big men Isaiah Stewart and Goga Bitadze were both hit with technical fouls soon after as they both engaged in a light shoving match, and Stewart followed the foul call with a block on a Desmond Bane floater.
Pistons guard Caris LeVert’s athletic layup gave the Pistons a 23-21 lead, while guard Javonte Green’s 3-pointer gave the Pistons a 26-24 lead two possessions later. Bitadze’s alle-oop dunk from Franz Wagner a couple of possessions later tied the game at 26-26, with Bitadze saying a few words to Stewart on his way down from the basket.
The Pistons have held the Magic to 37.5% shooting from the field, but Orlando has taken for more field goal attempts and six more free throws, allowing them to keep pace with the Pistons.
Pistons’ three alley-oops lead to tie game
1Q, 4:56: Pistons 18, Magic 18.
A 3-pointer from Magic guard Desmond Bane out of the timeout gave the Magic a 16-8 lead. The Pistons then turned it into a 4-point deficit with an alley-oop from Tobias Harris to Jalen Duren, and then an immediate basket off an Ausar Thompson inbounds steal he turned into a layup.
Thompson then found Duren again on the next possession for another alley-oop, and then it was Thompson on the receiving end on the next possession on an alley-oop feed from Cade Cunningham. Thompson then tied the game at 18-18 on a pullup midrange jumper, leading to an Orlando timeout.
Magic up early
1Q, 8:01: Magic 13, Pistons 8.
A Desmond Bane layup opened the scoring, giving the Magic an early 2-0 lead. Pistons guard Duncan Robinson knocked down his first 3-point attempt a couple possessions later, giving the Pistons a 3-2 lead, while Pistons star Cade Cunningham knocked down a 3-pointer on the next possession.
The Magic have taken a lot of shots and have gotten baskets at the rim on five occasions so far. As was the case in the first two games, Orlando has gotten second-chance opportunities thanks to offensive rebounds, allowing them to take an early lead.
Detroit Pistons starting five
Just like it is for the Magic, no surprises with the Pistons’ announced starting five.
Orlando Magic starting five
No surprises with the starting five the Magic are putting out for Game 3.
Pistons Game 3 uniforms vs Magic
The uniform matchup will look the same as it has the past two games, with the Pistons wearing their traditional whites and the Magic wearing their “Statement Edition” black uniforms with white pinstripes.
Pistons vs Magic score prediction for Game 3
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press: The Pistons thrive in road environments. They won an East-best 28 games away from home during the regular season. Even dating back to last year’s first-round series, both of the Pistons’ wins against the New York Knicks came at Madison Square Garden. After a decisive Game 2 win at Little Caesars Arena (to snap an NBA-record 11-game home playoff skid), they should continue riding that momentum into Kia Center.
The pick: Pistons 110, Magic 104.
Pistons injury report
The Pistons do not list any player on today’s injury report.
Pistons vs Magic game time in Game 3 of playoffs
What channel is Pistons vs Magic Game 3 of playoffs?
Saturday’s Game 3 between the Pistons and Magic will be available via streaming on Peacock and on NBCSN for YouTube TV and Xfinity subscribers.
Watch Pistons-Magic Game 3 on Peacock
Pistons vs Magic odds in Game 3 NBA playoffs
The Pistons are a slight favorite heading into Game 3 at Orlando.
Odds are courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday.
Who will Pistons play if they beat Magic?
The NBA does not reseed after the first round of the playoffs, meaning the winner of the 1-8 series (Pistons-Magic) will face the winner of the 4-5 series (Cavaliers-Raptors).
Pistons playoff schedule vs Magic series
Here’s the Pistons-Magic schedule for the playoff series in the first round:
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons vs Magic channel, score and live updates for Game 3
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
