How Detroit Pistons secured 1-seed and best season in 20 years
Detroit Pistons defeated the Philadelphia 76ers on April 4, 2026, to move to 57-21 on the season with four games left. How’d they get here?
The Detroit Pistons are the best team in the Eastern Conference and on a roll with less than a week remaining in the regular season.
They officially clinched the No. 1 seed in the East with their 116-93 road win Saturday over the Philadelphia 76ers, and have won nine of 11 games since Cade Cunningham suffered a collapsed left lung on March 17 against the Washington Wizards. The Pistons will close a two-game road trip against the Orlando Magic on Monday.
The Pistons are 2-1 against the Magic this season, and again will be without Cunningham for the 10th-straight game. Daniss Jenkins, the former two-way player, will again start at point guard.
All-Star center Jalen Duren has been dominant in 23 games for the Pistons since returning from a two-game suspension, averaging 23 points on 66.7% shooting with 11 rebounds.
The Pistons remain without standout backup Isaiah Stewart (calf) for a 12th straight game. Tobias Harris (left knee contusion), Duncan Robinson (left hip strain) and Caris LeVert (bilateral knee injury management) have also been downgraded to out.
The Magic have upgraded versatile guard Anthony Black to available (abdominal strain). He last played in a game March 7. They are without Franz Wagner, after edging New Orleans on Sunday night, 112-108, on the road.
Here’s how and what to watch for in tonight’s Pistons vs. Magic game, including the TV channel, streaming link, the lineups, injury report and betting odds.
Is Cade Cunningham playing today?
No. The Pistons’ superstar remains out after suffering a collapsed lung and is set to be reevaluated later this week. But there is some promising news we learned Monday afternoon.
Pistons vs Magic prediction
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press: The Magic will be on the second half of a back-to-back after defeating the New Orleans Pelicans on the road on Sunday. Since Cunningham went down, the Pistons have proven to be a deep team that can overwhelm teams physically on both ends. They should be able to maintain their hot steak. The pick: Pistons 122, Magic 112.
Pistons vs Magic game time
- Matchup: East 1-seed Pistons (57-21) vs. East 9-seed Magic (42-36).
- Date: Monday, April 6.
- Time: 7 p.m. ET.
- Location: Kia Center in Orlando.
- Box score.
Pistons vs Magic TV channel
Pistons injury report vs Magic
Injury updates on players on the 15-man roster.
- OUT: Cade Cunningham, Isaiah Stewart, Tobias Harris, Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert, Bobi Klintman.
Magic injury report vs Pistons
Injury updates on players on the 15-man roster.
- OUT: Franz Wagner, Jett Howard, Jonathan Isaac.
Pistons vs Magic starting lineups today
Here’s the projected Pistons-Magic starting lineups:
- Pistons: Daniss Jenkins (PG), Kevin Huerter (G/F), Javonte Green (G/F), Ausar Thompson (F), Jalen Duren (C).
- Magic: Jalen Suggs (PG), Desmond Bane (SG), Tristan da Silva (F), Paolo Banchero (F), Wendell Carter Jr. (C).
- Off the bench for the Pistons: Marcus Sasser (G), Chaz Lanier (G), Ron Holland II (F), Paul Reed (C).
- Off the bench for the Magic: Anthony Black (G), Jamal Cain (G), Jevon Carter (G), Moritz Wagner, (PF/C), Goga Bitazde (C).
Pistons vs Magic odds
- Spread: Pistons by 1½.
- Total O/U: 222½.
- Moneyline: Pistons -118, Magic -102.
Odds provided by BetMGM as of Monday evening.
Pistons schedule
The Pistons have four games left before the playoffs begin.
- Monday, April 6: at Orlando Magic.
- Wednesday, April 8: vs. Milwaukee Bucks.
- Friday, April 10: at Charlotte Hornets.
- Sunday, April 12: at Indiana Pacers.
- Tuesday, April 14: NBA Play-In Tournament begins.
- Saturday, April 18: NBA playoffs begin. (No. 1 seeds expected to play Sunday.)
Watch the most recent episode of our podcast, “The Pistons Pulse,” streamed live weekly on the Detroit Free Press YouTube channel or listen wherever you get podcasts.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.
