Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff pointed directly to Cade Cunningham’s mindset after a 45-point performance kept the season alive.
“He wasn’t going to let us go down tonight,” Bickerstaff said. “To know the moment, understand the moment, and then just do whatever was necessary to help us get that win.”
Detroit defeated the Orlando Magic 116-109 in Game 5 at Little Caesars Arena, cutting the series deficit to 3-2.
The Pistons never trailed and built leads of 17 in the second quarter and 15 in the fourth, relying on execution in key areas.
Bickerstaff emphasized the importance of possession control as a deciding factor.
“The simple things, right, the rebound battle, we did a hell of a job,” he said. “You put the possession game together, keeping them off the offensive glass, creating turnovers, you’re going to give yourself a chance.”
Detroit finished with a 49-33 rebounding edge and limited Orlando’s second-chance opportunities despite late pressure.
Cunningham’s late shot-making again drew attention from the head coach.
“It’s just his unique ability to be present in the moment and make the play when the play is needed at the biggest moments,” Bickerstaff said. “That’s why we’re going to see this throughout a long, long time.”
The Pistons also adjusted their rotation to manage Cunningham’s heavy workload, as he played 44 minutes.
“Just trying to use the timeouts to help him get rest,” Bickerstaff said. “Those minutes become longer minutes for him to get rest.”
Defensive activity from Ausar Thompson stood out across the game and the series.
“Ausar is awesome and understanding how he impacts the game,” Bickerstaff said. “He sacrificed himself every single night to do whatever the team needs to be done.”
Thompson recorded 15 rebounds, five steals and two blocks, creating disruption that fit Detroit’s defensive identity.
“He went out and got 11 defensive rebounds for us,” Bickerstaff added. “Not to mention his ability to get deflections, get steals, and just create chaos out there.”
The coach described the team’s urgency as consistent with its season-long approach.
“We’ve been really consistent in our approach and not getting too high and not getting too low,” Bickerstaff said. “We played with a great spirit.”
He also framed the elimination scenario in simple terms.
“It was do or die,” Bickerstaff said. “We knew that if we wanted our season to continue, we were going to have to give it all we had.”
Looking ahead, adjustments remain part of the playoff process.
“You watch the film, right, and then you make decisions based on what you’re seeing,” he said. “We have counters, too.”
Despite trailing in the series, Bickerstaff dismissed any notion that his team had lost belief.
“Until that fat lady starts singing, we got life,” he said.
Game 6 will take place in Orlando, where Detroit must win again to extend the series to a deciding Game 7.
