The Pistons have officially secured a top-six spot in the Eastern Conference with their 117-105 victory over the Raptors on Friday, clinching their first playoff berth since the 2018-19 season.
This marks a significant achievement in what has been a remarkable turnaround for the Pistons, who finished with the worst record in the NBA and the worst mark in franchise history last season, posting a 14-68 record. Detroit has more than tripled that win total this year, now sitting at 43-34 with five games remaining.
The Pistons’ resurgence has been fueled by an All-NBA caliber performance from former No. 1 overall pick Cade Cunningham, although he was sidelined for the playoff-clinching win due to a left calf contusion, missing his sixth consecutive game.
Instead, it was third-year center Jalen Duren, who posted 21 points, 18 rebounds, six assists, and four blocks, along with Sixth Man of the Year candidate Malik Beasley (21 points) and veteran Tim Hardaway Jr. (23 points), who stepped up in the victory.
Veteran forward Tobias Harris and second-year wing Ausar Thompson have also played pivotal roles, while guard Dennis Schroder has taken on a key role similar to the one previously held by Jaden Ivey before he was sidelined with a broken leg in January.
While Detroit has secured its spot in the postseason, its exact seed in the Eastern Conference remains undetermined. The victory moves the Pistons a half-game ahead of the 42-34 Milwaukee Bucks for the No. 5 spot, potentially setting up a first-round matchup with the No. 4 Indiana Pacers.
A slip to No. 6 would likely lead to a matchup with the Knicks, although neither New York nor Indiana has officially locked in its seed.
As noted by Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press, the Pistons’ 2025 first-round pick is now assured to go to the Minnesota Timberwolves, as the pick had been top-13 protected.
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