On Monday, April 21, the Detroit Pistons achieved their first playoff game win in 17 years, beating the New York Knicks on their home court at Madison Square Garden.
Entering into the 2024-2025 season, fans may have had low expectations for the Pistons’ success. Coming off of tying the NBA record for most losses in a row with 28, Detroit’s hopes for a playoff appearance, let alone a post season win, was very minimal. However, after drafting a highly sought after prospect, Ron Holland II, with the fifth overall pick, the Pistons’ potential of advancing to the postseason was on the rise.
Franchise player Cade Cunningham, accompanied by a great supporting cast, led the Pistons to their first playoff appearance in six years, averaging 26 points per game and also leading the team in ESPN’s season-end rating with 9.2 assists per game. Cunningham was selected, along with other superstars around the league, as a first-time NBA All-Star. The Pistons finished the season with a positive win-to-loss ratio with 44 wins out of 82 games, accumulating more than triple the wins they had the previous season.
Going into the first round of the playoffs, the Pistons were coming up against a well-rounded New York Knicks team who were favored to win the best-of-seven game series and move on to the next round. In the first game, the Pistons were stunned and fell short, losing by just 11 points at Madison Square Garden. Knicks star player Jalen Brunson put on a spectacular performance, scoring 34 points and adding eight assists which massively contributed to their win. This season, Brunson was given the NBA Clutch Player of the Year award ahead of the playoffs.
In game two, the Pistons won, beating the Knicks by six points, tying the series at 1-1. Cunningham once again contributed significantly to this win with 33 points, snapping their 15-game postseason losing streak.
Tenafly fans were thrilled.
“I think that the Detroit Pistons and how they won their first playoff game in 17 years just shows how much they have improved from last season,” Niko Mzyk (’27) said. “Coming off of tying the record for most losses in a row to entering the playoffs is phenomenal.”
The series came down to game six. After the Pistons and Knicks traded wins, the final game was in the infamous Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Despite the Pistons’ efforts, the Knicks powered through and were able to come out with the win, thanks to Jalen Brunson’s game-winning shot. Brunson ended the game with an astonishing 40 points and seven assists.
Although the Pistons failed to advance to the second round of the playoffs, it was overall a positive season for the team.
