The Detroit Pistons clinched a playoff spot on Friday night with their 117-105 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Detroit is in the postseason one year after finishing with the worst record in the NBA at 14-61, and set a league record for the longest single-season losing streak at 28 games.
Interestingly, the Pistons broke that streak against the Raptors, the same team against whom they finished off an impressive one-season turnaround.
Previously, no team in NBA history has ever gone from winning just 14 games to making the playoffs the following season. At 43-34 going into Saturday's matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies, the Pistons can finish no worse than the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference, finishing ahead of a play-in tournament spot.
"It's a big deal for the group... it's a credit to the organization, it's a credit to each one of those guys in the locker room."
— NBA (@NBA) April 5, 2025
- Coach Bickerstaff on the @DetroitPistons locking up a top-6 postseason spot 🙌 https://t.co/NJC9FIyLe5pic.twitter.com/5SjRAuj2dU
"It's a big deal for the group," Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said afterward. "We typically don't take time to reflect on where we are, but this is an opportunity for this group to reflect on where it is, where it's come from and what it's been able to accomplish together. To turn it around the way they have and put themselves in this position to play in the postseason, it's a big deal."
Bickerstaff is in his first year as Pistons coach after being dismissed by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Tim Hardaway Jr. led Detroit with 23 points, shooting 5-of-9 on 3-pointers. Jalen Duren finished with 21 points and 18 rebounds, shooting 9-of-11 from the floor. Malik Beasley also had 21 points.
