There’s a boring reason for why the Detroit Pistons are still alive in the NBA playoffs.
It’s not the only reason, as star Cade Cunningham’s playoff franchise record in scoring helped propel the Pistons to a Game 5 victory over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday, April 29, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Forward Ausar Thompson also had an outsized role as his 15 rebounds came one board away from a career high.
But maybe the biggest reason the Pistons are heading to Orlando is because of the free-throw line. Specifically, what the Pistons did while there and what the Magic couldn’t.
The Pistons drew a series-high 26 team fouls from the Magic on Wednesday for 35 free-throw attempts. The Pistons did their job shooting 80% from the line, adding 28 points to their tally in a game they won by just seven.
In contrast, the Magic attempted 30 free throws, their fewest since Game 1. Orlando made just 16, marking its worst game by free-throw shooting percentage (53.3%) of the season.
It would be reductive to say the Pistons won entirely because of these two stats. But they are indicative of how the Pistons got back to playing the style of basketball fans at Little Caesars Arena are used to, and how that style was able to overcome an all-time offensive performance from Orlando forward Paolo Banchero (a playoff career-high 45 points), and a stunning 3-point shooting night from the typically poor-shooting Magic (17-for-38, 44.7%).
Cade Cunningham and a different mindset
Cunningham admitted after Game 5 there had been a hole in his performance through the first four games.
“Yeah, I have missed too many free throws this series, so definitely had to lock in on that,” he said.
Cunningham may have been overselling his free-throw issues, as the career 84% free-throw shooter was down to 79% for the series through four games, shooting 30-for-38.
But he certainly locked in for Game 5, drawing 14 free-throw attempts and sinking all 14.
It represented Cunningham and the Pistons taking the game to the Magic with force and, more importantly, executing his style of play.
“I feel like we played freer today,” he said. “It wasn’t as much of the tightness that we had played with some of the past games this series. Obviously, there was a lot on the line. So everybody was locked in and putting everything out there. But I though there was still a freeness to us that allowed us to make shots and execute and not think so much.”
Cunningham set the tone and the rest of the Pistons followed.
“His leadership and his demeanor out there for all of us was huge,” Pistons forward Tobias Harris, who had 23 points on 9-for-18 shooting, said. “The way he impacted the game, big shot after big shot all night, and then just really controlling the game, that was the biggest thing for us as a group coming into this game.”
That freeness translated not just to Cunningham’s franchise-record performance, but to Detroit’s overall showing.
Ausar Thompson does everything, everywhere, all at once
A key advantage the Magic found through the first four games was with offensive rebounds: Orlando led the category, 59-45, entering Game 5. Those rebounds turned into second-chance points, keeping the Magic hanging around as the Pistons failed to go on enough scoring runs.
But Detroit doubled-up Orlando in Game 5, recording 16 offensive rebounds to eight for the Magic. Jalen Duren had a game-high five, two early on, but the most impressive rebounding came from the high-flying 6-foot-7 Thompson.
The third-year forward was everywhere on the floor, recording 15 rebounds, six assists, five steals and two blocks, finding ways to make winning plays in just about every way. He did it all despite missing five minutes after twisting his ankle early in the third quarter.
“He’s a great player, and that’s what we need from him,” Cunningham said. “Imposing himself on the series, imposing himself on the game like he did tonight, he’s shown that he’s beyond capable of that.”
And when Duren or Isaiah Stewart needed support on the glass or Cunningham needed a breather on defense, it was Thompson who flew in and took control, often ending up with the ball – no time more important than when he got on the floor for an offensive rebound on a Tobias Harris miss, allowing Cunningham to nail the dagger midrange shot with 32 seconds left.
“He sacrifices himself every single night to do what the teams needs to be done that night,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “We had an emphasis on rebounding the basketball and he went out and had 11 defensive rebounds. Not to mention his ability to get deflections, get steals and just create chaos out there.”
Pistons regain their identity
The game highlights are going to focus on Cunningham and Banchero each scoring playoff career-highs, as they should. But the Pistons forced another game in this series by playing the hard-nosed style of basketball they’re used to playing, even if that style is coming far later than anticipated.
“We come out swinging, we come out kicking, we come out scratching, biting, clawing, whatever is necessary to get it done,” said Bickerstaff. “And that spirit carries over, and the want not to let your teammate down carries over.”
Harris agreed.
“It really just comes down to the output and energy and assertiveness that you give on the court,” said Harris. “We really just broke this thing down of win every quarter, win every moment out there … it’s about us being proactive and figuring out ways to win in these moments.”
The Magic still have the edge, heading back home needing just one win to advance to the conference semifinals. But the Pistons made sure that didn’t happen on Wednesday, with Bickerstaff saying he felt his team has “always had life.”
“Until that fat lady starts singing, we got life,” he said.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: How Ausar Thompson and Cade Cunningham won Game 5 for Pistons
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
