The narrative around this Detroit Pistons season was always about seeing a spark. On Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena, Cade Cunningham provided a roaring inferno, leading his team to a convincing 135-116 victory over the Orlando Magic.

After a dismal offensive start that saw them miss nine of their first ten shots and fall behind 15-6, the Pistons found their rhythm and never looked back. The catalyst was their franchise cornerstone, Cunningham, who filled the stat sheet with 30 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, three steals, and three blocks, orchestrating a dominant second-half performance.

Cunningham's supporting cast delivered in a major way. Tobias Harris, facing his former team, chipped in 23 points, including 13 in the first half that helped keep Detroit afloat. The ever-energetic Jalen Duren dominated the interior, posting a powerful 21 points and 12 rebounds to control the paint.

Detroit finally drew even just before halftime on a Duncan Robinson three-pointer that made it 62-62, and they carried a slim 65-64 lead into the break. The third quarter, however, was where the game was decisively won. The Pistons exploded on a 14-1 run to seize a double-digit lead, outscoring Orlando 70-52 in the final two frames to turn a tight contest into a rout.

For Orlando, the loss marks a fourth consecutive stumble after a season-opening win. While Paolo Banchero (24 points) and Franz Wagner (22 points) combined for 46 points, their efficiency was a glaring issue. The duo missed 17 of 30 field goal attempts and, emblematic of the team's night, clanked 11 of 28 free throw attempts. As a team, the Magic missed 10 of 33 from the charity stripe in the first three quarters alone, a deficit too large to overcome.

Detroit's lead ballooned to 117-97 early in the fourth, allowing both coaches to empty their benches and coast to the finish. The Pistons, now 3-2, have shown early signs of a competitive pulse, while the 1-4 Magic will look to stop their skid quickly.

The Magic face a quick turnaround, traveling to face the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday. The Pistons will prepare for a unique stage, set to take on the Dallas Mavericks in Mexico City on Saturday.