Photo: Dan Hamilton ~ IMAGN IMAGES
DETROIT, April 5, 2025 ~ For the first time since the 2018-2019 season, the Detroit Pistons are officially headed back to the NBA Playoffs. The Pistons downed the Toronto Raptors 117-105 Saturday night, without All-Star Cade Cunningham, to clinch at least the sixth seed in the postseason.
Center Jalen Duren had a monster performance, recording a 21 point, 18 rebound double-double to go along with six assists. University of Michigan alumni Tim Hardaway Jr. also had an impressive performance, tallying 23 points and a logo buzzer beater to send Detroit into the fourth quarter with enough winning momentum.
After finishing with 14 wins last year, Detroit has become the first team in the league’s history to triple a win total in just one year.
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"Bad boys for life" pic.twitter.com/Q6mptByPBi
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 5, 2025
(CONTINUED) The last three playoff appearances for the Pistons have ended in four game sweeps. Detroit finished as the eighth seed in 2019, 2016, and 2009 but could not manage a win against the number one seeds.
The last time the Pistons won a playoff game was 2008 against the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Finals.
With only five games left in the regular season, Detroit will have the opportunity to keep climbing the standings, with the last two games of the year coming against the fifth seed Milwaukee Bucks. The team will also face the third seed New York Knicks during the final stretch.
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