The last team to come back from a 3-1 deficit was the Denver Nuggets during the 2020 season. In fact, the Nikola Jokic-led squad overcame the obstacle twice in the same playoff run.
Since then, no team has managed to climb out of this deep postseason hole that the Detroit Pistons now find themselves in.
Fortunately for Detroit, their ability to survive Game 5 on Wednesday night put them one step closer to swinging the momentum back in their favor, but it wouldn't have been possible without their star guard, Cade Cunningham.
Cade Cunningham is single handedly keeping the Pistons season alive
It took a 45-point outing and a go-ahead shot to secure the seven-point win over the Orlando Magic at home, but Cunningham's resilience sent a statement that Detroit won't be going down without a fight.
The Pistons have a key opportunity to even this series in Game 6 on the road, and with forward Franz Wagner's status still in question, this series could easily be coming back to the Motor City for a Game 7 that could put the team's offseason plans on hold.
Cunningham is averaging 32.6 points, 7.0 assists, and 5.8 rebounds in this series, while shooting an extremely efficient 45.2% from field goal range and 34.9% from beyond the arc.
Behind the team's star guard, the next highest-scorer is veteran forward Tobias Harris, who's averaging 19.8 points per game.
And while Harris' contributions are certainly a welcome surprise, considering the 33-year-old's abysmal playoff reputation was expected to make him the team's weakest link in the postseason, it only goes to show how difficult it's been for Cunningham to keep his team alive.
All that to say, if the Pistons hope to complete the comeback, J.B. Bickerstaff and his squad will have to find a way to help out their star guard.
Cunningham needs help to complete 3-1 comeback
Through the first five games of this matchup, Detroit's bench is averaging a lackluster 19.8 points per game.
In comparison to Orlando's 19.2 points per game, it may not seem that bad, but the main difference is that the Magic continue to get consistent contributions from their starting five, whereas Detroit constantly finds themselves hoping that Cunningham's heroics will be enough to help them survive.
Jalen Duren has to play better, especially after his recent bold claim. The bench unit needs to contribute more, and if the team's shooters can find a way to prove they're a threat, the Pistons' offense will immediately receive a much-needed boost.
With the Pistons headed back to Orlando looking to tie the series up 3-3, a Game 7 back in Detroit will give the No. 1 seed the chance to be the first team since Jokic and the Nuggets to come back from a 3-1 deficit.
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