ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Those 60 wins in the regular season and that No. 1 seed don’t mean much for the Detroit Pistons right now.
They’re one loss away from a rare elimination.
Only six No. 8 seeds have defeated a No. 1 in a playoff series in NBA history. It’s happened only four times since the postseason was expanded to a best-of-seven series for all rounds in 2003.
But the Pistons were sloppy with the ball and careless overall in a 94-88 loss to the Orlando Magic on Monday night, falling behind 3-1 in their first-round Eastern Conference series.
“We have to take care of the basketball. We have to win the rebound battle. We just have to be in the moment of what this is. This is playoff basketball,” said Tobias Harris, who scored 20 points. “We have to be more ready to just go out and there and scrap up. We are a little too casual. Everyone knows that in our locker room. We have to be better every single guy. All of us have to be better. We have to look ourselves in the mirror and be better.”
Harsh words from a veteran leader.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 25 points but had eight of the team’s 20 turnovers. Meanwhile, the Magic turned it over just 12 times.
“We did so many positive things but 20 turnovers and give up 16 offensive rebounds. That’s hard to overcome and that’s what it comes down to,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “They’re sending a lot of bodies to (Cunningham). We have to help him by giving him more space so he has room to operate, set screens, be more physical, get the guys off of him but, again, we have to do a better job taking care of it.”
The Pistons haven’t advanced to the second round since losing in the East finals in 2008. They had five straight losing seasons before Bickerstaff came in last season and led them to 44 wins before losing to the Knicks in six games.
This is no ordinary 1-vs.-8 series. The Magic played well before faltering down the stretch and had to win an elimination game in the play-in tournament.
The Pistons, meanwhile, rose to the top of the conference while the second-seeded Boston Celtics didn’t have Jayson Tatum for the first several months.
Detroit has struggled in this series not only with turnovers but with finding scoring options beyond Cunningham and Harris. The Pistons shot 6 of 30 (20%) from 3-point range in Game 4 and 31 of 82 (37.8%) overall.
“Back’s against the wall. Whatcha gonna do? You’re gonna fight,” Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart said. “You have to fight until the end so let’s get back to the crib, protect the crib and take it one game at a time. The series is not over. We’re gonna keep fighting.”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) passes the ball past Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) during the second half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Detroit Pistons guard Caris LeVert (8) strips the ball from Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) during the second half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Orlando Magic guard Desmond Bane (3) goes after a loose ball against Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson during the second half in Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
PHOENIX (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 31 points, Chet Holmgren added 24 and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Phoenix Suns 131-122 on Monday night, capping a four-game sweep in the first-round series.
The Thunder — who have a 12-0 record in the first round over the last three seasons — will face the winner of the Los Angeles Lakers-Houston Rockets series in the Western Conference semifinals. The Lakers have a 3-1 lead, though the Rockets won Game 4.
Phoenix has a 10-game losing streak in the playoffs, dating to 2023.
The Thunder closed the series with an overwhelming offensive performance — making 17 of 34 (50%) 3-pointers — and their big men played particularly well. The 7-foot-1 Holmgren shot 9 of 16 from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds, while the 7-foot Isaiah Hartenstein added 18 points and 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.
Ajay Mitchell added 22 points and made four 3-pointers. Alex Caruso finished with 14 points and hit three 3-pointers in the first quarter.
Gilgeous-Alexander was reliable as usual. Two days after scoring 42 points in Game 3, he had another efficient performance, shooting 10 of 17 from the field.
The Suns showed some fight in the second half, cutting a 15-point deficit to 106-98 entering the fourth. Devin Booker scored 12 points in the third quarter on 5-of-8 shooting.
But every time the Suns got within a few possessions, the Thunder responded. Cason Wallace hit a corner 3 with 5:54 left to extend the Oklahoma City lead to 120-106. Gilgeous-Alexander followed with a spectacular layup, somehow getting the shot to fall over three defenders.
Booker led the Suns with 24 points while Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green added 23. Collin Gillespie added 20 points while making six 3-pointers.
The Thunder pushed to a 75-67 lead by halftime after shooting 61.4% from the floor and 60% from 3-point range, hitting 12 of 20 behind the arc. Gilgeous-Alexander had 17 before the break, making a wide-open 3-pointer just before halftime.
That offset a hot shooting start for the Suns, who made 11 of 20 3-pointers. Gillespie scored 17 before the break, making all six of his shots, including five 3s.
The Thunder were without starter Jalen Williams, who missed his second straight game because of a left hamstring strain. Suns center Mark Williams (foot) and guard Jordan Goodwin (calf) were also out.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) shoots over Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault shouts instructions to his players during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Phoenix Suns, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) argues with referee Jacyn Goble (68) before getting a technical foul called on him during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie, right, regains control of the ball against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoot a 3-pointer against Phoenix Suns guard Collin Gillespie (12) during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA playoffs basketball series, Monday, April 27, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
