Pistons keep playoff hopes alive with key victory while Rockets beat Lakers

[p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-cavaliers/xGk13Tb6/"]Cleveland Cavaliers[/a] meanwhile pulled off an impressive comeback victory to take a 3-2 lead over the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/toronto-raptors/CxtbCMdU/"]Toronto Raptors[/a] in the first round of the playoffs.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cunningham-cade/0YleT8PG/"]Cunningham[/a] scored a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/detroit-pistons/UcjMRj6J/"]Pistons[/a] playoff-record 45 points to drag his side to a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/detroit-pistons-UcjMRj6J/orlando-magic-QZMS36Dn/?mid=zeZEbjEi"]116-109 victory[/a] on a must-win night, steering Detroit back to a 3-2 deficit in the best-of-seven series.[/p][p]The Pistons star man, having recently returned from a collapsed lung, played nearly 44 minutes as Detroit avoided a stunning first-round ouster at the hands of eighth seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/robinson-orlando/nRFCr4U4/"]Orlando[/a].[/p][p][b]"We dug ourselves a big hole, it's going to be a tough one to climb out of, but we handled business tonight,"[/b] said Cunningham.[/p][p][b]"We're at our best when our backs are against the wall,"[/b] he added.[/p][embed guid="694dac16-61e9-45e9-ba3d-9a0f85574fb5" url="https://x.com/DetroitPistons/status/2049678900834226185" social-type="twitter" /][p]Having dominated the Eastern Conference during the regular season, Detroit has faltered badly at the start of the post-season.[/p][p]Needing to win three in a row to escape the first round, the Pistons came out of the blocks fast in front of a home crowd Wednesday.[/p][p]Playing with a high energy bordering on desperation, Detroit owned the glass with 17 rebounds in the first quarter, building a 12-point lead.[/p][p][b]Cunningham exploded into the game with 20 points in the second quarter alone.[/b][/p][p]But the gap closed to six points by half-time, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/orlando-magic/QZMS36Dn/"]Orlando[/a] missed two go-ahead three-pointer attempts soon after the break.[/p][p]The Pistons took advantage and powered well clear. Orlando refused to quit, mounting a late charge including a pair of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/banchero-paolo/06ii067b/"]Paolo Banchero[/a] three-pointers that narrowed the lead back to three points.[/p][p]But a Cunningham triple with barely 30 seconds remaining sealed the win. Banchero top-scored for Orlando with 45 points.[/p][p]The Magic will have another chance to finish a surprise series win on Friday back in Orlando. A possible decider would take place in Detroit on Sunday.[/p][embed guid="bde29ded-cd0d-4b77-a2e5-f5a121f6588c" url="https://x.com/OrlandoMagic/status/2049671203464315172" social-type="twitter" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/james-lebron/nuIVxFJk/"]LeBron[/a]'s 25 not enough[/h2][p]Jabari Smith Jr.'s 22 points helped the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/houston-rockets/Sr9PQALP/"]Houston Rockets[/a] grind out a gritty [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/houston-rockets-Sr9PQALP/los-angeles-lakers-ngegZ8bg/?mid=t4dHSMHt"]99-93 win[/a] to bring their series with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-lakers/ngegZ8bg/"]Los Angeles Lakers[/a] back to 3-2.[/p][p][b]The Lakers had led 3-0, but now face a tricky trip to Texas for game six.[/b][/p][p]The return of key offensive contributor [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/austin-reaves/xlCMu1nk/"]Austin Reaves[/a] after nine games out with an oblique injury had boosted the Lakers, who got off to a bright first quarter on Wednesday.[/p][p][b]But the Rockets - who were again without star forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/durant-kevin/pKXcd9rI/"]Kevin Durant[/a] with an ankle issue - shot ahead, building a 13-point advantage midway through the final quarter.[/b][/p][p]A LeBron James driving layup reduced the deficit to single digits with five minutes remaining, pumping up the home crowd.[/p][embed guid="f465a4a1-2d17-45e4-aae2-0fc6b7a28555" url="https://x.com/HoustonRockets/status/2049712546244968514" social-type="twitter" /][p]But it was not to be for the Lakers. Another loss in Houston on Friday would put the Lakers at risk of becoming the first team in history to blow a 3-0 lead in a playoff series.[/p][p]Veteran 41-year-old superstar James top-scored on the night with 25 points, continuing his remarkable post-season form, but failed to score any of his three-pointer efforts.[/p][p][b]"We just couldn't make shots,"[/b] said Lakers coach JJ Redick.[/p][p][b]"Missed some layups, certainly had some good looks for three that didn't go down. But we'll take a look at the whole process."[/b][/p][p]Cleveland secured a fifth straight win for the home team in their series against Toronto to take a 3-2 lead.[/p][p]Having twice trailed by 12 points, Cleveland powered back in the second half with a much stronger defensive performance to win [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/basketball/cleveland-cavaliers-xGk13Tb6/toronto-raptors-CxtbCMdU/?mid=tdQHddH0"]125-120[/a].[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mobley-evan/SrZZLQHj/"]Evan Mobley[/a] led the rally with 10 points in the third quarter, while Dennis Schroder added 19 off the bench.[/b][/p][p]The result means all four Eastern Conference first-round playoff series now stand at 3-2.[/p]