Paolo Banchero Sends Clear Message to Pistons After Magic Steal Game 3

The Orlando Magic just flipped the script on the Eastern Conference's top seed in what's quickly becoming one of the most entertaining series of the first round.

On Saturday in Orlando, the No. 8 seed Magic outlasted the No. 1 Detroit Pistons 113–105 in Game 3, riding a near triple-double from Paolo Banchero (25 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists) to take a 2–1 series lead.

The win gave Orlando full control of the series, and Banchero made that crystal clear afterward.

"We got a lot of respect for those guys over there. But we know how we stack up," Banchero said. "We know what we've got in this locker room. And so we don't fear them."

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Game 1 set the tone, and raised eyebrows across the league. Orlando walked into Detroit and never trailed, pulling off a 112–101 upset behind Banchero's 23 points and a balanced scoring attack that saw all five starters hit double figures.

Then came Game 2, where the Pistons punched back hard.

Led by Cade Cunningham (27 points, 11 assists), Detroit fought back with a dominant 30–3 third-quarter run en route to a crucial 98–83 win.

Orlando's offense completely stalled, shooting just 33% from the field, and Banchero, while productive (18 points), struggled with efficiency against Detroit's physical defense.

Through two games, the series was tied 1–1, but the momentum felt fragile, setting the stage for a pivotal Game 3.

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Back on home court, Banchero delivered his most complete performance of the series, scoring, facilitating, rebounding, and controlling tempo from start to finish.

Orlando played with pace, spacing, and confidence, avoiding the offensive stagnation that doomed them in Game 2.

Detroit entered as the East's top seed, but through three games, Orlando has looked like the more composed and versatile group in the biggest moments.

Now, all eyes shift to Game 4 on Monday in Orlando. The Pistons are currently listed as 3.5-point favorites, but history tells a different story, as teams that take a 2–1 series lead go on to win around 80% of the time.

Detroit may still hold the edge in the odds, but that margin is shrinking fast as Orlando's confidence continues to build.

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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 5:40 PM.