Peacock Blog NBA on NBC

How to Watch Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic Game 3 - NBA Playoffs on Peacock

The First Round series between the Pistons and the Magic heads to Orlando this weekend on Peacock.

By Matthew Jackson
Paolo Banchero #5 of the Orlando Magic draws a foul from Josh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls during a game.

We're headed into the second weekend of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on NBC and Peacock, and that means we're getting closer and closer to resolving several First Round series. Fortunately, the NBA on NBC has you covered with another big slate of games, including a tripleheader of First Round matchups for your Saturday. 

How to Watch

Watch NBA on NBC on NBC and streaming on Peacock

It all starts on Peacock, where the top-seeded Pistons hope to keep their momentum from Game 2 as they head to Orlando to face the Magic on the road.

RELATED: Full 2026 NBA Playoffs Round 1 Schedule: Teams, Dates & More

How to watch Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic Game 3

Cade Cunningham on the court at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game.

After two games in Detroit to kick off the First Round series between the 1-Seed Pistons and the 8-Seed Magic, the action heads to Florida for Game 3 as the Pistons try to get a win streak going, and the Magic try to recapture some of their winning spirit in front of a home crowd. The game tips off at 1 p.m. ET on Peacock, live from Orlando's Kia Center.

Michael Grady will be on the call for NBC Sports, with analysis from Austin Rivers and Robbie Hummel and courtside reporting from Grant Liffmann. And be sure to tune in early to catch the NBA on NBC's exclusive pregame show, NBA Showtime, at Noon ET.

Following the Pistons vs. Orlando game, the tripleheader action continues on NBC and Peacock with the Oklahoma City Thunder at Phoenix Suns Game 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET, followed by the New York Knicks at Atlanta Hawks Game 4 at 6 p.m. ET.

RELATED: Players to Watch in the 2026 NBA Playoffs

What to expect from the Pistons vs. Magic Game 3

Jalen Duren of the Detroit Pistons dunks the ball against the Washington Wizards .

The Magic rode their dominant Play-In win over the Hornets into Game 1 of this series and did some serious damage, upsetting the Pistons by double digits and setting what looked like a pretty frightening tone for Detroit fans. That all turned around in Game 2, as Detroit took advantage of poor shooting by the Magic and worked to spread the ball around more, giving leading scorer Cade Cunningham some much-needed relief after he tried and failed to put the team on his back with a 39-point performance in Game 1. The ball distribution was much better for the Pistons in Game 2, and they had Orlando's shooters rocked back on their heels. 

If the Pistons can keep up that kind of play, they could very well coast through the rest of the series, and things look good for Game 3 if they can keep those adjustments in mind and work with the same kind of approach. The real question is whether Paolo Bachero, Jalen Suggs, and the rest of the Magic roster can find a way to get better looks. If they can, and their offense refuels, we could have yet another tight game on our hands. 

NBA on NBC

The NBA is officially back on NBC and Peacock, with exclusive games every week across broadcast and streaming featuring some of the biggest stars in the game.

The fun continues on NBC and Peacock with the NBA Playoffs from Round 1 starting on Sunday, April 19, and continuing through the Western Conference Finals at the end of May!

Check out the full schedule for every NBA game on NBC and Peacock this season right here.

From real-time stats and predictive fun to highlight clips and immersive angles, Peacock’s suite of NBA features puts you in control of how you watch the game:

  • Courtside Live: An interactive, mobile-first viewing experience with new camera feeds and immersive perspectives that bring you to center court. Available weekly for select games throughout the 2025-2026 season.  
  • Peacock Performance View: Unlock a next-level broadcast with dynamic overlays showing playing insights, heat maps, scoring probabilities, and more.
  • Can’t Miss Highlights: Swipeable vertical highlights on the Peacock mobile app for quick recaps of clutch moments, momentum shifts, and standout plays, wherever you are.
  • Peacock ScoreCard: Turn every game into an interactive experience. Pick from a range of cards and watch as your predictions come true.
  • Catch Up With Key Plays: Instantly revisit the most pivotal game moments with a curated playlist you can access anytime below your player controls.

Sign up for Peacock now to make sure you're not missing a second of the NBA action. You can also gift the experience!

 

 

Read more about: