J.B. Bickerstaff has vowed that the Detroit Pistons will "come out punching" in Game 5 of their play-off series with the Orlando Magic after going down 3-1 on Monday. 

The Eastern Conference's number one seed was beaten 94-88 by the Magic as Desmond Bane scored 22 points and Franz Wagner had 19 of his own across three quarters. 

Orlando, who won an elimination game in the play-in tournament, are close to becoming the seventh number eight seed to defeat a number one seed in a series in league history.

It's happened only four times since the playoffs were expanded to a best-of-seven series for all rounds in 2003, with the Pistons needing to save their 60-win season by winning the final three games of the series.

The Pistons are the third team to win 60 games in the regular season but trail 3-1 in their opening series. Each of the previous two teams – the 2011 San Antonio Spurs and 2007 Dallas Mavericks – extended their series but lost in six games.

"We're going to come out punching," Detroit coach Bickerstaff said of the Pistons in Game 5. "That I promise you.

"We're not going to lay down for anybody. It's one game at home and that's what your focus is on. It is you got to go home and win one game. And that's where our mindset is."

pic.twitter.com/FxHZPxo4yM

— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 28, 2026

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 25 points and Tobias Harris had 20, though it was the turnovers in the game that cost Detroit dearly in Game 4. 

The Magic notched 23 points from 20 turnovers by their opponents, something centre Jalen Duren said must be eradicated to keep their season rolling on. 

"Too many turnovers. They are scoring off of our mistakes. The whole series, we had just been shooting ourselves in the foot.

"We got to clean that up, man. I still think we're the better team, top to bottom.

"But we just got to ... we can't keep digging ourselves in the hole. Then, we are fighting ourselves, that team, the refs ... we just got to be better."

The 45-win Magic have not won a play-off series since 2010, when they lost in the Eastern Conference finals. The 37-year-old franchise has never won an NBA title.

Detroit has, however, had an even longer series drought. They have failed to advance to the second round since losing in the East finals back in 2008. 

Point guard Cunningham was asked if he was shocked to find the position his team are in, and he said: "Going into [this series I'd be] shocked.

"But with the way that we've been playing, that stuff's not good enough to win games, and this league's too good.

"They're a good team, so they're out rebounding, turning me over. We haven't hit enough shots.

"Our defence hasn't caught its footing, so it's not shocking that we're losing the games playing like that."