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Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham will lead his team into Game 7 against the Orlando Magic, but will fans be able to watch it?
The Detroit Pistons’ first Game 7 in the city limits of Detroit will not be simple for every fan to watch.
The Pistons host the Orlando Magic at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 3, at Little Caesars Arena, with the winner advancing to the second round of the NBA playoffs. The game will air nationally on ABC, but that creates a complication for Detroit-area fans who use Comcast/Xfinity.
According to a Detroit News report, Detroit’s local ABC affiliate, WXYZ Channel 7, remains unavailable on Xfinity because of a carriage dispute between Comcast and E.W. Scripps. The outlet reported that the agreement expired on March 31 and that Scripps-owned stations across the country have gone dark on Xfinity.
That means some local Pistons fans may need another plan for one of the biggest games in recent franchise history.
National TV: ABC
Streaming: ESPN app / ESPN Unlimited, and live TV streaming services that carry ABC, such as YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DirecTV Stream, depending on local availability
Radio: WWJ 950 AM for the Pistons radio broadcast
Tipoff: 3:30 p.m. ET / 12:30 p.m. PT
Location: Little Caesars Arena in Detroit
The Pistons-Magic Game 7 will be televised nationally on ABC, with tipoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 3, from Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Fans can also stream the game through the ESPN app/ESPN Unlimited, or through live TV streaming services that carry ABC, including YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV, Fubo and DirecTV Stream, though local ABC availability can vary by market.
That national broadcast setup is where the Detroit-specific issue comes in. According to The Detroit News, Detroit’s local ABC affiliate, WXYZ Channel 7, is not currently carried by Comcast/Xfinity because of a carriage dispute between Comcast and E.W. Scripps. For Metro Detroit viewers affected by the blackout, The Detroit News noted that options include using an over-the-air antenna, streaming through ESPN Unlimited, or listening to the Pistons radio broadcast on WWJ 950 AM.
The Pistons-Magic Game 7 is part of a two-game NBA playoff slate on Sunday.
The day begins with Magic at Pistons at 3:30 p.m. ET. Later, Raptors at Cavaliers tips at 7:30 p.m. ET to close out a day of Game 7s.
For Detroit, the schedule slot creates a national showcase. It also gives the Pistons a chance to finish a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against the eighth-seeded Magic.
Cade Cunningham has been central to that push. He scored 45 points in Game 5 to keep Detroit alive, while Orlando’s Paolo Banchero matched him with 45 points of his own in the same game.
The Magic will be without one of their most important players in Game 7.
Orlando forward Franz Wagner has been ruled out with a calf injury. Wagner suffered the calf strain in Game 4 and has missed the past two games. Wagner averaged 20.6 points and 5.2 rebounds during the regular season, making him one of Orlando’s top offensive options.
Wagner’s absence is especially significant because the Magic already let a 3-1 series lead slip away. Orlando had a chance to close the series at home in Game 6, but Detroit’s comeback forced the decisive game back to Little Caesars Arena.
Without Wagner, the Magic will need Banchero to carry an even heavier load against a Pistons team that suddenly has home-court momentum, a national ABC window and a chance to complete one of the most dramatic first-round turnarounds of the playoffs.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA, MLB and NFL for Heavy.com. He also focuses on the trading card market. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
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