The Orlando Magic suffered a historic collapse against the Detroit Pistons in Game 6, falling apart after building a substantial lead. The Magic’s bench wore stone-faced expressions as their team unravelled. What unfolded had never previously occurred in the NBA’s 79-year history.
Historic Offensive Ineptitude Dooms Magic
After establishing a 24-point lead early in the third quarter, the Magic had an opportunity to become the seventh No. 8 seed to upset a No. 1 seed. Instead, they collapsed, producing the lowest-scoring half in league playoff history. The Magic managed to score only 19 points in the second half.
Magic shooting guard Desmond Bane said the Pistons played with more desperation and energy. He noted the Pistons’ offensive rebounds and pressure disrupted the Magic’s flow. Bane acknowledged it’s difficult to win when scoring only 19 points in a half, attributing it to the Pistons’ superior energy.
Offensive Weaknesses Exposed
The 2025-26 Magic possess admirable qualities when healthy, including an outstanding defence and physicality, matched by few teams other than the Pistons. These qualities contributed to Orlando’s 3-2 series lead entering Friday’s game.
However, the Magic’s half-court offence is a weakness. They rank among the league’s worst 3-point shooting teams. Without a capable traditional point guard, their offence often devolves into aimless drives, hoping to draw a foul, and wide-open misses are common.
These offensive deficiencies, amplified by Franz Wagner’s absence due to a right-calf strain, threaten the Magic’s chances in Game 7. Only 13 teams in NBA history have lost a best-of-seven series after leading 3-1.
A Pattern of Collapse
This collapse wasn’t entirely isolated. On March 29 in Toronto, the Magic allowed the Raptors to go on a 31-0 run that bridged the first and second quarters, the longest unanswered scoring run since the start of the play-by-play era in the 1997-98 season.
However, the stakes were higher on Friday. Orlando has not won any playoff series since 2010, when their starting lineup included Jameer Nelson, Vince Carter, Matt Barnes, Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard.
This season’s Magic have now squandered two opportunities to close out this series. In Game 5 in Detroit, they made only 16 of their 30 free-throw attempts and allowed the Pistons.
The Athletic has live coverage of Magic vs. Pistons Game 7.