In a stunning NBA Cup upset, the Orlando Magic derailed the second league-leading Detroit Pistons' impressive 13-game winning streak, securing a nail-biting 112-109 victory on the Pistons' home court on Saturday, November 29, 2025 (Philippine time).
Bane's Heroics Seal Magic Victory
The architect of the Pistons' downfall was Orlando guard Desmond Bane, who delivered a spectacular performance with a game-high 37 points. His clutch contribution included two crucial offensive rebounds in the final minutes, plays that were instrumental in sealing the hard-fought win for the Magic. Bane was visibly ecstatic after sinking a critical shot for the Magic.
Franz Wagner provided significant support, adding 21 points to complement Bane's dominant outing. Despite the loss, Detroit's Cade Cunningham put up a monstrous triple-double, finishing with 39 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, but it wasn't enough to overcome Orlando's resilience.
A Game of Critical Late-Game Plays
The final minutes were a tense back-and-forth affair. A three-point play from Desmond Bane with just 2:11 remaining gave Orlando a 108-106 lead. Wagner followed this with a layup, extending the Magic's advantage to four points.
Although Detroit's Harris hit a three-pointer on the other end and the team got a defensive stop, a costly turnover by Cade Cunningham with 1:03 left in the fourth quarter squandered their chance to take the lead. The Magic's Jalen Suggs then calmly sank two free throws with 6.3 seconds left, pushing the lead to 112-109.
In a dramatic final sequence, Cunningham was fouled with 4.7 seconds remaining. He missed the first free throw and intentionally missed the second, securing his own rebound. He passed the ball to Duncan Robinson, whose potential game-tying three-point attempt was successfully blocked by Anthony Black, sealing the Orlando victory.
Standings Implications and Aftermath
With this result, the Orlando Magic improved their NBA Cup record to a perfect 4-0 in East Group B and boosted their overall season standing to 12-8. For the Detroit Pistons, this loss marks their second consecutive defeat after previously falling to the Celtics, halting their remarkable 13-game run.
While the Pistons maintain their top position in the Eastern Conference with a 15-4 record, their NBA Cup journey has ended. They finish the Cup group stage with a 2-2 record and have been eliminated from advancing to the next round of the tournament.
