With their win in Toronto on Friday, the Pistons have formally clinched a top-six spot within the Jap Convention, securing their first playoff berth because the 2018-19 season (X link).
It’s the newest achievement in what has been a exceptional turnaround for the Pistons, who posted the worst file within the NBA — and the worst mark in franchise historical past — a 12 months in the past once they went 14-68. Detroit has greater than tripled that win complete this season, sitting at 43-34 with 5 video games nonetheless to play.
The Pistons’ bounce-back season has been pushed by an All-NBA caliber efficiency from former No. 1 total decide Cade Cunningham, although he wasn’t in motion in Friday’s playoff clincher, having missed his sixth consecutive recreation because of a left calf contusion.
As an alternative, it was rising third-year middle Jalen Duren (21 factors, 18 rebounds, six assists, 4 blocks), Sixth Man of the Yr contender Malik Beasley (21 factors), and veteran function participant Tim Hardaway Jr. (23 factors) who performed key roles within the 117-105 win over the Raptors.
Veteran ahead Tobias Harris and second-year wing Ausar Thompson are among the many different most necessary contributors in Detroit, together with veteran guard Dennis Schröder, who has taken on a job much like the one Jaden Ivey performed earlier than breaking his leg in January.
Whereas the Pistons have now secured their spot within the postseason, their precise seed within the Jap Convention continues to be to be decided.
Friday’s victory strikes them a half-game forward of the 42-34 Bucks for the No. 5 spot, which might doubtless line them up for a first-round date with the No. 4 Pacers. Sliding to No. 6 would in all probability end in a matchup with the Knicks in spherical one, although neither New York nor Indiana is formally locked into its seed but.
