The Detroit Pistons have officially clinched an NBA playoff spot for the first time in six years.
Their road victory over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on Friday night guarantees the Pistons a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, which begin April 19. The Pistons will avoid the play-in tournament, which features the Nos. 7-10 seeds in each conference and takes place April 15-18.
This is the Pistons' fourth time making the playoffs since the franchise's last East finals appearance 17 years ago, in 2008, and third since owner Tom Gores purchased the team ahead of the 2011-12 season.
Detroit Pistons playoff seed in Eastern Conference
Friday's victory moved the Pistons into fifth place in the East by themselves, half a game ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks and three games behind the fourth-place Indiana Pacers. In the playoffs, the East's 6-seed will face the 3-seed — currently the New York Knicks, 2½ games up on the Pacers — while the 4- and 5-seeds face off.
The Pistons lead the series over the Knicks, 2-1, with the final game taking place in Detroit on Thursday. The Pistons lost three of four to the Pacers this season.
The Pistons trail the series against the Bucks, 2-0, and will play them twice in a row to conclude the season, April 11 and 13.
It has been a historic season — the Pistons are the first team in NBA history to triple their win total from the previous season (14) as they secured a winning record for only the second time in the past 17 years.
Detroit Pistons playoff losing streak
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