After a full week of practice, the Detroit Pistons finally knew their first-round opponent on Friday, April 17th. They’re not too worried about who the opponent is, though – that’s the prerogative of the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference.
The Pistons’ first-round playoff series begins this weekend when they face the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic (45-37) on Sunday (6:30 p.m., NBC). The Magic are one of the few teams to tie or win the season series with the 60-22 Pistons, with the series tied at 2-2.
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“It’s been a great week of preparation, cleaning things up and making sure we’re ready for whatever’s coming,” Cade Cunningham said after Friday’s practice. “Obviously, we’re going to find out who we’re going to play tonight. Be prepared and make sure we’re focused on doing what we do best.”
schedule: Here’s the Pistons vs. Magic game in the 2026 NBA Playoffs
Here are three questions that will determine which team advances to the second round for the first time in more than a decade.
What can the Magic get from their top duo?
Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner struggled in Orlando’s 109-97 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, which locked up the No. 7 seed. Banchero scored 18 points on 18-of-22 shooting, with 4 assists and 6 turnovers. Wagner scored 12 points and dished out 3 assists in limited playing time.
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It was a rough season for Wagner, a University of Michigan alumnus who played in just 34 games due to injury. An ankle sprain on Dec. 7 caused Wagner to miss most of the season, although he returned for six of Orlando’s final seven games. The Magic will need their stars against the Pistons, who had the league’s second-best defense in the regular season.
Will Jaylen Duren maintain his dominance?
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) guards Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the first quarter at Kia Center in Orlando on Monday, April 6, 2026.
The first-time All-Star finished the season on a high note, averaging 22.6 points and 10.7 rebounds in 26 games while shooting 67.8 percent from the field after serving a two-game suspension following a scrimmage with the Charlotte Hornets in February. He was a key reason the Pistons won 15 of their final 19 games and withstood the effects of Cunningham’s collapsed lung, which caused the Pistons’ other All-Star to miss 11 games.
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One of the main reasons why the Pistons lost to the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs last season was the lack of reliable secondary scoring. Duren has become one of the league’s most dominant interior scorers and has a chance to prove he’s a true star alongside Cunningham.
What will Cade Cunningham look like after his injury?
When Cunningham went down with a collapsed left lung on March 17, the Pistons faced the possibility of entering the playoffs without their superstar. He eventually returned with less than a week left and played 26, 28 and 22 minutes in the final three games. But after three weeks on the sidelines, he revealed on Friday that he was not yet 100 percent.
“I’m close, but I don’t think I’m back yet,” he said. “Obviously, I still have some things to do to get back to full speed, just getting my rhythm back and everything. “I’m getting close. I’m just dusting it off a little bit. “
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Cunningham returned against the Milwaukee Bucks on April 8 and averaged 11.3 points, 10.3 assists and 5 rebounds in three games. He seems to be still recovering. After a week of practice, he and the Pistons expect him to be available quickly when he takes the court on Sunday.
The Magic don’t just have Banchero and Wagner, Desmond Bane is having an efficient season, averaging over 20 points per game, and has the ability to sway the playoffs with his outstanding performance. But the Pistons are deeper and better on both ends of the floor this season. This shouldn’t be a long series. Picks: Pistons 5.
Please contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. follow him X and/or blue sky.
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This article originally appeared in the Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons-Orlando Magic playoff predictions, 3 questions