Bianchi: After Magic’s historic meltdown, how can they possibly beat Pistons in Game 7?

This was supposed to be the night the series ended and the Orlando Magic rose up.

Instead, it was the night the series continued and everything came tumbling down.

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The night when the Orlando Magic were up by 24 points at home in Game 6 with a chance to close out the top-seeded Detroit Pistons and win their first playoff series in 16 years.

And instead they folded like a flea market lawn chair.

Pistons 93, Magic 79.

And now, the Orlando Magic are headed back to Detroit for a Game 7; not with momentum, not with clarity, but with questions about their guts, their composure and their inability to close out a series they once led 3-1.

Magic fans came to see history on Friday night, and, sadly, they saw it – just not in the way they had imagined.

They saw the Magic get outscored 55-19 in the second half and score the least amount of points in a half of any team in playoff history. They saw the Magic allow the largest comeback by a road team facing elimination in 30 years.

How can this happen?

How can this possibly happen?

How can the Magic miss 23 straight shots at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth? I realize this team is not known for its offense, but 23 STRAIGHT MISSES?

How does star Paolo Banchero, so brilliant with 45 points in a Game 5 loss on the road, come back to Kia Center in Game 6 and miss 16 of 20 shots and not record a second-half field goal until his uncontested dunk with two minutes left after the Pistons had already wrapped up the victory?

How did starting center Wendell Carter finish with six fouls and no rebounds?

How did starting point guard Jalen Suggs make just 1 of 10 shots while committing five turnovers?

“We just had a very bad drought,” Banchero said.

A very bad drought?

Really?

Seriously?

No, this wasn’t just a very bad drought; this was the 1930s Oklahoma Dust Bowl of droughts.

For crying out loud, this was the kind of drought where if you’re milking the cows, nothing comes out but evaporated milk.

This game should have been over.

This series should have been over

The Magic were up by 24 early in the second half and the team’s long-beleaguered fan base was raucous and roaring and ready to celebrate finally winning a playoff series.

Magic fandom wasn’t thinking about Game 7; they were thinking about moving on; about putting an end to nearly two decades of irrelevance.

Instead, the Magic are back in the place they were trying to avoid – one game, on the road, with everything at stake and far less confidence than they had before.

This wasn’t just a missed opportunity.

It was a monumental meltdown and a massive shift in momentum.

And you could feel that shift inside the building as the game unfolded. The early energy was there, the crowd was ready, the belief was real. But as the night wore on, that belief turned into tension. Every missed shot lingered a little longer. Every Pistons run felt a little heavier.

So heavy, in fact, that the Magic crumbled underneath the weight and the tone of the series has changed, and the reasons are impossible to ignore.

Franz Wagner is still not on the floor, and he’s almost certainly out for Game 7 as well.

And without him, everything feels harder than it used to.

Wagner’s absence isn’t just about what he scores. It’s about how he connects everything. He is the piece that allows the Magic to stay balanced offensively and to match up with a player like Cade Cunningham defensively.

Without him, that identity is harder to maintain.

And on Friday night, it showed again.

Now comes Game 7 and there are two pieces of alternating history Magic fans can lean on. Will this be like the 2003 Magic team that also had a 3-1 lead on the Pistons and ended up getting blown out in Game 7 in Detroit. Or will this be like the 2009 Magic, who went up to Boston for Game 7 and blew out the Celtics in one of the most memorable wins in franchise history?

“Yes, it stings, it sucks and it hurts to be up by 24 at one point (and then lose),” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said after Friday’s devastating loss. “But now we’ve got to wash it and go get Game 7.”

Detroit will have the crowd, the confidence and a star playing at a level that has shifted the series. Home teams win Game 7 nearly 75 percent of the time, and nothing about the current trajectory suggests this will be easy.

That doesn’t mean it’s over.

But it does mean it’s different.

Orlando guard Jalen Suggs reacts during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando guard Desmond Bane (3) pushes past Detroit guard Dannis Jenkins (24) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley yells during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando players, from left: Franz Wagner, Jamal Cain, and Mo Wagner are dejected as they watch from the bench during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando forward Paolo Banchero (top) leaps over Detroit center Jalen Duren (0) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando center Goga Bitadze (35) scores over Detroit guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando guard Jalen Suggs scores over Detroit guard Duncan Robinson (bottom) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. slam dunks during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. celebrates during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando center Goga Bitadze (35) screams after scoring over Detroit guard Caris LaVert (bottom) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando guard Jalen Suggs (4) shoots over Detroit guard Duncan Robinson (55) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando guard Desmond Bane (3) drives past Detroit forward Ausar Thompson (9) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Detroit guard Duncan Robinson (55) leaps to control the ball beside Orlando guard Desmond Bane (3) and Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Detroit center Jalen Duren (0) stops Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff yells during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando guard Jevon Carter (bottom) loses the ball under Detroit forward Ausar Thompson (9) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando center Goga Bitadze (35) reaches for a rebound over Detroit forward Tobias Harris (12during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando forward Jamal Cain (right) can't get past Detroit guard Dannis Jenkins (24) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Detroit guard Cade Cunningham (2) passes during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando forward Tristan da Silva (23) loses the ball in front of Detroit guard Cade Cunningham (2) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando forward Paolo Banchero (5) shoots a three point shot during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Detroit guard Cade Cunningham (2) pulls in a rebound beside Orlando guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) fouls Detroit forward Tobias Harris (left) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Detroit forward Tobias Harris (12) shoots over Orlando forward Tristan da Silva (23) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando players are subdued on the bench during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Injured Orlando forward Franz Wagner (middle) did not play in the game. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley coaches during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 27Detroit guard Cade Cunningham (2) shoots past Orlando guard Anthony Black (bottom) and Orlando center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the Detroit Pistons at Orlando Magic game 6 of the NBA Playoffs at the Kia Center in Orlando on Friday, May 1, 2026. Detroit won the game 93-79 to force a game 7 in Detroit. (Stephen M. Dowell/Orlando Sentinel)Expand

What once felt inevitable now feels improbable. What once felt like control now feels fragile. And what once looked like a breakthrough moment for this franchise is suddenly hanging in the balance – not gone, but quickly evaporating.

Friday night was supposed to be the conclusion.

Instead, it became the complication.

And now, everything that this series was building toward – everything this season has hinted at – comes down to one final game in a place the Magic desperately wanted to avoid.

Not because they can’t win in Detroit.

But because now, they have to.

Email me at [email protected]. Hit me up on social media @BianchiWrites and listen to my radio show “Game On” every weekday from 3 to 6 p.m. on FM 96.9, AM 740 and 969TheGame.com/listen

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