Detroit Pistons whiff after 4th-quarter rally in NBA Cup loss to Magic

Facing a win-and-get-in scenario to reach the NBA Cup quarterfinals, the Detroit Pistons were unable to close out.

They fell, 112-109, to the Orlando Magic at Little Caesars Arena on Friday, Nov. 28,, for their second straight loss. The Magic clinched East Group B in the NBA Cup. The Pistons (15-4) have lost two straight after tying a franchise record with 13 wins in a row and instead will have two more regular-season games scheduled in lieu of the in-season tournament.

Despite the loss, it was another big night for Cade Cunningham, who tallied his second triple-double of the season with 39 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. He took over late, scoring 21 points in the second half and nine points in the final quarter, but it wasn't enough.

LEARNING MOMENTS: Detroit Pistons' record start reveals growth even without win streak

Down 110-109 with 44 seconds remaining, the Pistons gave up four offensive rebounds on one possession by the Magic, costing them an opportunity to win. With 6.3 seconds left, the Magic secured the fourth rebound and Jalen Suggs made two free throws to virtually clinch the game.

Cunningham missed the first of two free throws with 4 seconds to play, and though he recovered the rebound after intentionally missing the second free throw, Duncan Robinson's game-tying 3-point attempt was blocked by Anthony Black.

Tobias Harris scored 18 points, and Jalen Duren added 16 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. The Pistons held the Magic to 41.2% shooting, including 16.7% from 3 (5-for-30), but committed 24 turnovers, off which Orlando scored 27 points. Desmond Bane led the Magic with 37 points.

Cade Cunningham carries offense down stretch

Two nights after a 42-point effort from Cunningham wasn’t enough in a road loss to the Boston Celtics, the Pistons’ offense once again struggled to make shots when the superstar guard wasn’t the one shooting.

He was responsible for 12 of their 26 points in the third quarter as they gave up a 17-6 run toward the end of the period to face their biggest deficit up to that point, 89-82, with 33 seconds on the clock.

The Pistons’ offense slowed almost to a halt through the first half of the final period. They didn’t make a field goal until the 7:23 mark of the fourth, but were only outscored 6-1 in that span due to their defense. Down the stretch, Cunningham led the way as the Pistons erased a 10-point deficit.

Down 100-90, Cunningham capped a 10-0 Pistons run with a pull-up 3-pointer to tie the game with 4:11 remaining. From there, it was a series of highlights for Cunningham — a pair of free throws to cut it to one, and then an alley-oop to Duren to give them their first lead of the quarter, 104-103, at the 3:20 mark. With 1:32 to play, Cunningham drove and kicked out to Harris for a 3-pointer to bring them within one again, 110-109. But that was it for the Pistons.

MUST WATCH: Make "The Pistons Pulse" your go-to Pistons podcast, listen available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify)] 

Follow the Pistons all year long with the best reporting at freep.com/sports/pistons.

Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram (@detroitfreepress), TikTok (@detroitfreepress), YouTube (@DetroitFreePress), X (@freep), and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook (@detroitfreepress).

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons drop second straight, fall 112-109 to Magic