Getty

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - MARCH 12: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons while playing the Philadelphia 76ers at Little Caesars Arena on March 12, 2026 in Detroit, Michigan.

The Detroit Pistons are on the brink of elimination after going down 3-1 in their first-round playoff series against the eighth-seeded Orlando Magic.

Now, heading into Game 5, the Pistons will do what they can to save themselves in the series. But while stars Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren haven’t matched their regular-season form through the first round, Detroit did get some good news as it relates to their chances in the upcoming win-or-go-home matchup against Orlando.

After suffering a calf strain in Game 4, Magic forward Franz Wagner is not expected to play in Game 5, which could boost the Pistons’ chances of extending the series.

Franz Wagner Injury Update Is Good News For The Pistons

Wagner suffered a calf strain in the middle of the two teams’ Monday night contest and only played for six minutes in the second half, while Orlando pulled away with a win.

But now, based on the latest injury updates, Wagner is not expected to play in Game 5 due to the injury.

“Franz Wagner, right now, as of this moment, is not expected to play tonight,” Charania said on the Pat McAfee Show. “He has a right calf strain”

He hasn’t officially been ruled out, signs point to Wagner’s injury keeping him out Wednesday night. In addition to Charania and Jason Beedle’s reporting, Magic star Paolo Banchero told reports in shootaround that he also didn’t expect Wagner to play in Game 5.

In four playoff games, Wagner averaged 16.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 43.9% shooting. He hasn’t been at his best in the series against Detroit, but as he is one of if not the biggest piece for Orlando’s success, him likely going out bodes well for the Pistons.

“Paolo Banchero told reporters after shootaround in Detroit that the team isn’t expecting Franz Wagner to be available for tonight’s Game 5 against the Pistons,” Beedle wrote on X. “Wagner did not participate in Orlando’s shootaround this morning, I’m told.

Still, the recent reports only relate to his status for Game 5, so if Detroit can extend the series, that doesn’t guarantee he’ll be out for Games 6 or 7.

Detroit Pistons Before Crucial Game 5

While Wagner’s injury return is good news for the Pistons, they have their own injury concerns heading into Game 5, as Kevin Huerter is currently questionable with an abductor strain.

He held the same injury status for Game 4 but ended up playing, so while there haven’t been any recent updates about him for Wednesday night, the expectation is that Huerter will play in the must-win game for Detroit.

But overall, the Pistons were not expected to be in this position, now facing elimination in Game 5 against the eighth seed in the West. While Cunningham has put up big numbers, turnovers remain a huge issue. Additionally, Duren is averaging less than ten points through the first four games, and Detroit as a whole hasn’t been able to convert up to the level they were in the regular season.

However, while the Pistons face elimination, Duren believes they are still the stronger team, and have the ability to bounce back in the series.

“I still think we’re the better team, top to bottom. But we just got to … we can’t keep digging ourselves in the hole,” he said after Game 4, per ESPN. “Then, we are fighting ourselves, that team, the refs … we just got to be better.”

If Detroit does lose in Game 5, or in any further game in the series, the Magic would become only the seventh eight-seed in NBA history to advance past the first round, and one of only four to do it by taking a 3-1 lead.

The massive Game 5 of Pistons-Magic tips off on Wednesday, April 29, at 7 pm EST on Amazon Prime Video.