Magic lead Pistons in 3rd quarter: Game 6 Live score, updates, highlights from 2026 NBA playoffs originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Orlando Magic try to close on their home court against the Detroit Pistons in Game 6 on Friday night. In any best-of-seven series, the end usually becomes must-watch TV, which means wild basketball is on the horizon.
The Magic being at home, injuries and momentum swings will all be a factor. Not many 8 vs. 1 series come down to this. Detroit getting knocked out would be a major blow to the Eastern Conference side of the bracket in the 2026 NBA Playoff.
Can the Pistons win two games in a row and keep the beat going into the next round? Will the Magic realize the moment and take out the Bad Boys? Only 13 teams in NBA playoff history have ever overcome a 3-1 deficit. Orlando doesn’t want to play with fire.
NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live scores | Full schedule | Updated bracket
Pistons vs. Magic live updates, highlights from Game 6 of NBA playoffs
3rd Quarter- 3:23- Magic on a 7-0 run out of the last timeout.
3rd Quarter- 4:14- Anthony Black hits another 3-pointer 70-54 Magic lead
3rd Quarter- 5:01- Tristan da Silva nails 3-pointer right off the timeout 67-54 Magic up
3rd Quarter- 5:32- TV Timeout. Magic up 10 with a 16-4 run in the quarter for the Pistons.
3rd Quarter- 6:29– Another Duncan Robinson 3-pointer with the Magic lead down to 64-54
3rd Quarter- 7:39- Duncan Robinson hit 3-pointer with Magic’s lead at 64-50. A 12-4 run for the Pistons.
3rd Quarter- 9:17- Cade Cunningham floater cuts the Magic lead to 62-45
Halftime: Magic 60, Pistons 38
Team Stats
| Halftime | Pistons | Magic |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 16-40 | 23-40 |
| Field Goal % | 40 | 57 |
| 3PT | 4-12 | 7-17 |
| Three Point % | 33 | 41 |
| FT | 2-5 | 7-9 |
| Free Throw % | 40 | 78 |
| Rebounds | 17 | 21 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 7 | 6 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 10 | 15 |
| Assists | 7 | 16 |
| Steals | 0 | 3 |
| Blocks | 0 | 1 |
| Total Turnovers | 6 | 4 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 5 | 4 |
| Fast Break Points | 2 | 5 |
| Points in Paint | 18 | 20 |
| Fouls | 10 | 7 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 4 | 22 |
MAGIC LEAD BY 22 AT THE BREAK 🔥
Desmond Bane: 15 PTS (3 3PM)
Orlando is looking to become the 7th 8th-seed in postseason history to advance to the Conference Semis 🍿 pic.twitter.com/E4W1ROifsW
— NBA (@NBA) May 2, 2026
2nd Quarter- 28.7 seconds– The Pistons are deep in a hole in Orlando down by 22 points.
2nd Quarter- 1:05- Paolo Banchero free throws puts the Magic up 60-38
2nd Quarter- 1:26- Paolo Banchero jumper puts the Magic up by 20
2nd Quarter- 2:31– TV timeout. Magic increase the lead to 54-38
2nd Quarter- 4:09– Pistons need a run before the end of the half. Otherwise, this will be a tough hill to climb in the second half down 49-36
2nd Quarter- 5:02– Cade Cunningham’s floater stops a little bleeding, but Magic up 48-34
2nd Quarter- 6:06- Magic jump out to a 17 point lead at 47-30 with three consecutive 3-pointers. Great way to come out of the timeout.
2nd Quarter- 7:46- TV timeout. Desmond Bane layup gives the Magic the biggest lead of the night 38-28
2nd Quarter- 8:19– Anthony Black layup with an and one puts Magic up by 8 by a score of 35-28
2nd Quarter- 9:31- Teams trading buckets but Magic still up 33-28
2nd Quarter- 10:04– Magic retake the lead 29-26 with a jumpers from Paolo Banchero and Tristan da Silva
End of 1st Quarter- Pistons 26, Magic 25
Team Stats
| 1st Quarter | Pistons | Magic |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 10-19 | 10-21 |
| Field Goal % | 53 | 48 |
| 3PT | 4-6 | 3-9 |
| Three Point % | 67 | 33 |
| FT | 2-5 | 2-4 |
| Free Throw % | 40 | 50 |
| Rebounds | 9 | 11 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 2 | 4 |
| Defensive Rebounds | 7 | 7 |
| Assists | 4 | 10 |
| Steals | 0 | 2 |
| Blocks | 0 | 2 |
| Total Turnovers | 2 | 2 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Fast Break Points | 2 | 2 |
| Points in Paint | 10 | 8 |
| Fouls | 3 | 3 |
| Technical Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant Fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Largest Lead | 4 | 5 |
1st Quarter- 39.2- Both team have traded buckets with the Pistons clinging to a 26-25 lead before the end of the 1st quarter.
1st Quarter- 3:10– Duncan Robinson 3-pointer pushes the Pistons back in front 20-18
1st Quarter- 3:32- Anthony Black jumper give the Magic a 18-17 lead.
1st Quarter- 5:04– Pistons take their largest lead at 17-14
1st Quarter- 6:41- Pistons take a 12-11 lead with Jalen Duren dunk
1st Quarter- 6:57– TV timeout. Tobias Harris 3-pointer cuts the Magic lead to one at 11-10. Both teams are starting to settle in
1st Quarter- 8:23– Both teams are trading buckets with the Magic up 9-7
1st Quarter- 9:47– The Pistons respond to reduce the Magic lead 7-5
1st Quarter- 9:57- Two quick 3-pointers put the Magic up 7-2
1st Quarter- 11:24- Both teams are playing with early jitters. 1-0 lead for the Magic
Tip-off in Orlando
The Orlando Magic have ruled out forward Franz Wagner for Friday’s pivotal Game 6 against the Detroit Pistons. https://t.co/3yFx3febFu
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) May 1, 2026
How to Watch Detroit Pistons (2-3) vs. Orlando Magic (3-2) Game 6 NBA Playoffs
Friday, May 1
Tip-off: 7 p.m. ET
TV: Amazon Prime
Orlando leads the series 3-2
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