The Orlando Magic are two wins away from pulling off one of the biggest upsets in recent NBA history against the Detroit Pistons. Orlando headed into the first-round matchup as heavy underdogs against Detroit after needing two Play-In Tournament matchups to punch their ticket to the NBA playoffs.
Since 2012, only two No. 8 seeds have upset a No. 1 seed in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
After the Magic survived an impressive run by the Pistons to win Game 3, Paolo Banchero made it clear that Orlando is not intimidated by the Pistons being the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
“I haven’t learned anything,” Banchero told NBC Sports in the April 25, 2026, interview. “We got a lot of respect for those guys over there, but we know how we stack up.
“We know what we got in this locker room, and so we don’t fear them. We got a lot of respect. And we just gonna have to bring it on Monday (in Game 4).”
Paolo Banchero Was 1 Assist Shy of Posting a Triple-Double vs. Pistons in Game 3
Banchero posted 25 points, 12 rebounds and nine assists in Game 3. The star was one assist away from notching a triple-double.
Banchero’s performance was highlighted by a fortunate bounce to hit a clutch three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining to help the Magic go up 2-1 in the series. The Pistons will look to even the series in Game 4 on Monday, April 27, at 8 p.m. Eastern on NBC.
Magic’s Wendell Carter on Pistons: ‘Had To Be the Most Physical Person Out There or They Were Going to Punk Me’
The Pistons-Magic series has emerged as one of the most physical playoff series in the first round. Magic center Wendell Carter was asked if he felt Orlando’s physicality was frustrating Detroit.
Carter emphasized that he is attempting to be physical with the Pistons before “they were going to punk me.”
“Honestly, I didn’t really pay much attention to it,” Carter explained in his April 25, press conference. “I didn’t really pay too much attention to how they was reacting to it. I just knew I had to be the most physical person out there or they were going to punk me. It’s as simple as it is.
“So, I’m not really paying attention to how they’re taking it or how they’re reacting or fouls, no fouls. I’m going to continue to play my game no matter whoever is out there. No matter. That’s kind of my mindset going into it.”
The Pistons Have Struggled to Slow Down the Magic’s Offense in 2 of the 1st 3 Games
There is still time for the Pistons to turn things around. Yet, it is less than ideal to head into another game in Orlando already facing a 2-1 deficit.
“The biggest issue for Detroit was their inability to contain the drives, put them in rotations, weakside didn’t rotate to help, didn’t put a body on the bigs giving up offensive rebounds,” NBA TV’s Mo Dakhil detailed in an April 25, message on X.
“It all started with the dribble penetration.”
Magic’s Paolo Banchero Sends Blunt Message on Pistons After NBA Playoff Upset