How have the Detroit Pistons done in Game 7s in their history?
Pretty average, actually. But that doesn’t matter right now.
The 1-seed Pistons used a stunning 26-1 run in the second half to rally from 24 down to beat the 8-seed Orlando Magic, 93-79, in Game 6 on Friday, May 1. It forces a winner-take-all Game 7 in their first-round series at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Sunday afternoon.
The Pistons are 5-4 in Game 7s since moving to Detroit in 1957. The Magic are 2-2.
The Pistons have won five of their past six Game 7s, with the last one taking place nearly 20 years ago.
The Pistons are undefeated (4-0) at home in Game 7s, and they will look to continue that streak on Sunday.
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Half of those the winner-take-all games occurred in the Pistons’ “Goin’ to Work” era in the mid-2000s that comprised one of the greatest runs in franchise history.
Here’s a quick history of the nine Game 7s since the Pistons moved to Detroit in 1957. (The Fort Wayne Pistons lost 92-91 loss to the Syracuse Nationals in the 1955 NBA Finals.)
1974: Lost to Chicago Bulls in Western Conference semifinals
Score: Bulls 96, Pistons 94 on April 13, 1974, at Chicago Stadium, Chicago.
What happened: Bob Lanier, who finished third in the MVP vote that season, put up a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds as the Pistons held the Bulls to just 16 points in the fourth quarter. But it was two points too many as the Bulls squeaked by in the first-ever playoff matchup between the teams, foreshadowing the memorable Game 7s between the Midwest rivals.
1987: Lost to Boston Celtics in Eastern Conference finals
Score: Celtics 117, Pistons 114 on May 30, 1987, at Boston Garden, Boston.
What happened: The Bad Boy Pistons had not yet gotten their nickname, but in a series that was better known for Isiah Thomas’ intercepted inbounds pass stolen by Larry Bird that led to a last-second Celtics win in Game 5, Detroit couldn’t parlay a Game 6 win into a road victory in Game 7 once Adrian Dantley and Vinnie Johnson banged heads at the house of horrors that was Boston Garden.
1988: Lost to Los Angeles Lakers in NBA Finals
Score: Lakers 108, Pistons 105 on June 21, 1988, at The Forum, Inglewood, California.
What happened: This was another series that was more famous for another game, with point guard Isiah Thomas scoring 25 third-quarter points on an injured ankle in Game 6, only for center Bill Laimbeer to be called for a controversial foul on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the final minute that led to key free throws for the Lakers.
The Pistons kept it close for Game 7, but the Lakers pulled out the win for their fifth title of the decade.
1990: Beat Chicago Bulls in East finals
Score: Pistons 93, Bulls 74 on June 3, 1990, at The Palace of Auburn Hills,.
What happened: Michael Jordan and the Bulls gave the Pistons all they could handle in Games 1-6 of the 1990 Eastern Conference Finals, with forward Scottie Pippen showing up as a real force. However, Pippen suffered from migraines during Game 7 and scored just two points over 42 minutes, leading to a comfortable victory for Detroit.
2003: Beat Orlando Magic in first round
Score: Pistons 108, Magic 93 on May 4, 2003, at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
What happened: The 2026 Pistons are hoping they can pull off a repeat of the 2003 Pistons, who also fell 3-1 in their first-round series as a 1-seed against an 8-seed Magic team.
Chauncey Billups was the man of the night, scoring 37 points on 19 shots and leading the Pistons to a first-round comeback victory.
2004: Beat New Jersey Nets in East semifinals
Score: Pistons 90, Nets 69 on May 20, 2004, at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
What happened: The Pistons, who held the Nets to just 56 points in Game 1, put up another defensive masterclass in Game 7, limiting Hall of Famer Jason Kidd to zero points on 0-for-8 shooting.
The Pistons then beat the Indiana Pacers in six games in the conference finals and upset the Lakers in five games in the NBA Finals to secure the franchise’s third NBA title.
2005: Beat Miami Heat in East finals
Score: Pistons 88, Heat 82 on June 6, 2005, at American Airlines Arena, Miami.
The Pistons played a bruising series against a new-look Miami Heat with second-year star Dwyane Wade and perennial MVP candidate Shaquille O’Neal in his first season with Miami. But after hammering the Heat in Game 6, the Pistons outlasted a 27-point, nine-rebound, three-block performance from O’Neal in Game 7 to advance to the Finals.
Speaking of …
2005: Lost to San Antonio Spurs in NBA Finals
Score: Spurs 81, Pistons 74 on June 23, 2005, at SBC Center, San Antonio, Texas.
What happened: The battle between the defending champions and an emerging dynasty went to the San Antonio Spurs, who were limited to 42.6% shooting from the field but played solid defense of their own against a Pistons team whose top scorer (Richard Hamilton) recorded only 15 points.
2006: Beat Cleveland Cavaliers in East semifinals
Score: Pistons 79, Cavaliers 61 on May 21, 2006, at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills.
What happened: Cavaliers 21-year-old star LeBron James scored a game-high 27 points, but no other Cavs starter registered more than eight points, as Detroit outclassed an overmatched Cavs team.
That was the last time the Pistons have played in a Game 7, with Sunday’s game being the first time the Pistons will do so since moving into Little Caesars Arena in 2017.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pistons have great Game 7 history in NBA playoffs, but it has been a while
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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