Cade Cunningham after Game 7: “It will help us grow”

At Little Caesars Arena, a celebration nearly two decades in the making finally erupted. The Detroit Pistons demolished the Orlando Magic 116-94 in Game 7, completing a comeback from 3-1 down that had looked nearly impossible.

The signature moment? A drive by Cade Cunningham, the defense collapsing, and a perfect kickout to Daniss Jenkins in the corner: three-pointer, Pistons by 23 with nine minutes left. From there, it was all celebration.

Detroit now returns to the Eastern Conference semifinals for the first time since 2008. And they do it after having their backs against the wall, needing three straight wins and overcoming a 24-point deficit in Game 6.

Cade Cunningham dominates: true leader numbers

If there is one face of this run, it is Cunningham’s. The Pistons point guard finished Game 7 with 32 points and 12 assists, after dropping 45 in Game 5 (a franchise playoff record).

A complete performance that places him among the few players in NBA history with at least 30 points and 10 assists in a Game 7.

After the game, he explained what the series gave Detroit:

I have to give credit to the Magic, they tested us. They forced us to look within ourselves. I got a lot better, and so did the team. This series is going to help us grow even more for the next round

Cade Cunningham

The right support: Harris and Duren deliver

Alongside the Pistons star, the rest of the group also stepped up in a major way. Tobias Harris finished with 30 points and 9 rebounds, while Jalen Duren turned in his best game of the series: 15 points and 15 rebounds.

And it was Duren who best described the team’s identity:

We know who we are. People outside can say whatever they want. We feel like dawgs. When everybody counts us out, that’s when we really start playing

Jalen Duren

A comeback worth twice as much

It’s not the first time Detroit has come back from a 3-1 series deficit: it also happened in 2003… against Orlando. But this one feels different.

The Pistons, the top team in the East during the regular season with 60 wins, were on the brink of elimination. Now they head forward with soaring confidence and an entire city behind them.

Cunningham knows it well:

Losing in the first round would’ve hurt, even for the city. We feel the energy from the fans. Winning like this, at home, against the odds… it’s an incredible feeling

Cade Cunningham

Now the Cavaliers: Detroit wants more

The Pistons’ journey continues against the Cleveland Cavaliers. And with this mindset, Detroit doesn’t look ready to stop dreaming anytime soon.