Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero just delivered the first dual 45-point playoff performance since the 2020 Bubble. Yankee Scores has the full breakdown of this historic Game 5.
Tension built up at Little Caesars Arena after Paolo Banchero connected on a catch-and-shoot triple and made it a three-point game for the Magic against the Pistons within a minute of the fourth quarter Wednesday night.
Cunningham Made the Difference
The Pistons had a high of 15 points during the fourth quarter, but the Magic were making their way back into contention due to Banchero’s 45-point performance.
Cade Cunningham went on to drive on the right side, pulled Desmond Bane back and drilled a 16-foot fadeaway jumper with 32 seconds left on the clock, securing a franchise-record 45-point outing for Cunningham and ending with a 116-109 victory for the Pistons.
4️⃣5️⃣ points. pic.twitter.com/jt30j47pDi
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 30, 2026
A Record-Breaking Scoring Duel
Game 4 saw a defensive struggle in which the Magic took the victory over the Pistons. But Game 5 saw an incredible playoff matchup between the two stars. Both Cunningham and Banchero had 45-point performances, becoming the second pair in NBA playoff history to put up 45-point games during the same game. The only other instance occurred in Game 4 of the 2020 first round when Donovan Mitchell recorded 51 points while Jamal Murray had 50 in the COVID-19 bubble.
“That’s what’s up,” Cunningham said when told about him and Banchero joining Murray and Mitchell as the only other two to score that many points in a playoff game against each other. “I’m sure it was a great game. Hope the fans enjoy it, but it was a great win for us.
“… Not everybody is blessed with those types of opportunities to have pressure and things on the line like that. A lot of times I feel undeserving of how great of moments I get to be a part of. Just try to make the most of it.”
Banchero’s Fourth-Quarter Charge
Banchero, though, did all he could to keep this game close, scoring 18 of his points and hitting 4 of 6 triples in the fourth when the Pistons led by as many as 15 early in the quarter.
“In the heat of the moment, you’re not really thinking about it,” Banchero said of his duel with Cunningham. “You’re just thinking about getting the win. But sure, one day [I’ll] look back and be like, ‘That was a hell of a game.’ But me and him have been going at it since AAU days. So, no surprise there that happened.”
Up Next
The series returns to Orlando Friday night where the Pistons will try and hand the Magic their second home playoff loss over the past three seasons.
