The Detroit Pistons'115-106 win over the New York Knicks on Thursday was the team's third win in a row in that matchup, and brought them one step closer to securing their first-round NBA playoff matchup.
Had the Pistons lost on Thursday, it would have solidified their position as the No. 6 seed (and guaranteed a first-round matchup with the Knicks). Now, there's a little more wiggle room for the Pistons to sneak up one spot in the standings.
The win over the Knicks raises the Pistons' odds of finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference from 14% entering Thursday's game to 23% entering Friday's game, per playoffstatus.com. There's a 77% chance the Pistons remain the sixth seed for the playoffs.
The Pistons (44-36) play their final two games of the regular season against the Milwaukee Bucks (46-34), who currently sit fifth in the conference and have won six straight. The first matchup takes place Friday night at Little Caesars Arena at 7 p.m., while the final regular-season game tips off in Milwaukee on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games are on national TV.
Here are the Pistons' playoff scenarios entering Friday, grouped by the potential outcomes over the next two games:
Pistons win both games
- The Pistons and the Bucks would finish with identical 46-36 records, but the Pistons would hold the tiebreaker based on record against Eastern Conference opponents and get the No. 5 seed over the Bucks. The first two tiebreakers, head-to-head and division record, would be tied.
- That would likely match the Pistons up with the Indiana Pacers, who would be locked into the No. 4 seed with any loss or Knicks win over each ...
