The Detroit Pistons’ quest for an NBA title begins Sunday.
The first round of the playoffs tips off for the Pistons when they host the Orlando Magic on NBC/Peacock at 6:30 p.m. The Pistons enter off a dominant 60-22 win season, clinching the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 2006-07 and winning at least 60 for only the third time in franchise history.
The Pistons last faced the Magic in the playoffs in the conference semifinals in 2008, which the Pistons won 4-1. It’s the fifth time the two teams are meeting in the postseason, and the Pistons lead the all-time series 3-1.
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Here’s what our NBA experts will be looking for, plus predictions for the series.
[ 2026 NBA playoff predictions for each series: How far will Pistons go? ]
Which Pistons-Magic storyline/matchup are you anticipating most?
Omari: The battle between back-to-back No. 1 picks in Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero. The former has been the better player all season, earning All-Star and likely All-NBA honors, while averaging a near double-double with 23.9 points and 9.9 assists. Banchero hasn’t been quite as good this season but stepped up to clinch the eighth seed over the Charlotte Hornets in the play-in, leading Orlando with 25 points, six assists and five rebounds on 9-for-17 (52.9%) shooting. He also torched an injury-battered Pistons team with 31 points on 10-for-16 (62.5%) shooting on April 6.
Shawn: The 1990s are back, and it’ll be fun for all the get-off-my-lawn types to witness some brawn on brawn. That’s the narrative between two of the best defensive teams in the league, at least now that Orlando is healthy and looks like the unit we thought they’d be when the season broke. Yes, it’s a small sample size, but what the Magic did to the Hornets (121-90) was no accident. This year’s Eastern Conference is deeper than in years past, and no matter who the Pistons got in the first round, it wasn’t going to be easy. Seeing a bit of their mirror image should make for taut and tense playoff basketball.
What is one way Orlando could make this a long series?
Omari: A strong series from Michigan alumnus Franz Wagner would even the scales a bit. He has struggled with injuries this season and only appeared in 34 games, and has been knocking off rust since returning from an ankle sprain in April. When healthy, Wagner − the No. 8 pick in the 2021 draft − is a difference-maker and adds a needed dynamic to Orlando’s offense with his shooting and playmaking.
Shawn: Make shots, as it did against Charlotte, starting with Desmond Bane, a prolific 3-point shooter (career 40.7% in six seasons) and efficient scorer. Jalen Suggs can make a few and so can Anthony Black. If the Magic get rolling even a little with the way they check, that’ll lead to six or seven games.
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Pistons vs Magic prediction for playoff series
Omari: It will be a physical, hard-fought series. The Pistons and Magic embrace similar styles on both ends of the floor, prioritizing shots at the rim and bringing physicality on the defensive end. Some games will likely be closer than the Pistons will be comfortable with, but they are the superior team and should prevail due to stronger defense, depth and Cunningham’s leadership. The pick: Pistons in 5.
Shawn: Cunningham may need a couple games to find his rhythm and the Pistons will need him to if Orlando starts to find its rhythm after missing so many players to injury this season. The Pistons have the better team but they’re going to have to make plays late in games to win this series. This won’t be decided by blowouts. In the end, Cunningham finds his range and his legs and makes the difference. The pick: Pistons in 6.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons better not take Magic lightly or this could be dangerous series
Reporting by Omari Sankofa II and Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
