Magic made Pistons 'take a look in the mirror' during tough first-round win, says Cunningham
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Cade Cunningham believes the Orlando Magic made the Detroit Pistons "take a look in the mirror" as they advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The Pistons earned a 116-94 win over the Magic in Game 7 of the first-round playoff series on Sunday, completing the turnaround to reach the next round.
Detroit are just the 15th team in NBA history to rally from a 3-1 deficit in the series, while also capturing their first postseason series since 2008, when they also defeated Orlando.
Cunningham led the way for Detroit with 32 points, 12 assists and two blocks, while Tobias Harris chipped in with 30 to go with nine rebounds and three steals.
They became the first Pistons team-mates to each score at least 30 points in a play-off game since Bob Lanier (33) and Howard Porter (30) in 1977.
"Credit to [the Magic], they pushed us," Cunningham, who averaged 32.4 points in the series, said. "They really made us take a look in the mirror.
"I think we got a lot better from this series. I got a lot better. I learned a lot about myself, learned a lot about the team.
"So, I think this series really is going to set us up for our next series, and we'll be a lot better for it.
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"We had a great regular season. We built a lot of momentum going into this playoffs, and to lose in the first round would have really stung.
"So, we wanted to perform and to figure it out and to come back from 3-1, odds against us, and to come back and win it at home feels good. It feels really good. And we're excited for what's to come."
This is the second time in franchise history that the Pistons have overcome a 3-1 deficit, having also come from behind to beat the Magic in 2003.
Not only did they have to win three straight games this time around, they also had to overturn a 24-point deficit in the second half of Game 6.
"I mean, to be honest with you, I never doubted that we were going to win this series," Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
"And that's the truth of the matter."
The Pistons will face the Cleveland Cavaliers in the semifinals, with Game 1 taking place on Tuesday.
