The Detroit Pistons went into Game 4 on the road in a difficult playoff spot, trailing the 8-seeded Orlando Magic 2-1 and facing the risk of falling behind 3-1 on Monday night. A win would have tied the series at 2-2 and changed the mood of the first round in a hurry.
The Pistons were not dealing with that pressure alone. Over the weekend, the Toronto Raptors bounced back from a 2-0 deficit against the Cleveland Cavaliers by winning both games at home, and on Saturday night the New York Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks to avoid falling to 3-1. The article said all signs pointed to Knicks-Hawks going to Game 6, and a Game 7 felt very realistic.
That made Detroit’s position feel even tighter. The Pistons’ potential second-round opponent was also in a similar spot through four games, which meant the Eastern Conference bracket was already packed with series that had turned into survival tests instead of routine playoff runs.
For Detroit, the challenge on Monday night was straightforward: answer on the road or spend the rest of the round trying to climb out of another hole. The result would not settle the series, but it would say plenty about how long the Pistons could stay in it.
