TORONTO – For the first time since the 2018-2019 season, your Detroit Pistons are heading back to the NBA playoffs as they’ve locked in a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference.
Coming into Friday (April 4), the Pistons controlled their own destiny as all they needed to do was beat the Toronto Raptors, which they did, winning 117-105 inside Scotiabank Arena.
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PLAYOFF BOUND!!!
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 5, 2025
With the victory, the Pistons improved to 43-34 and are sitting one game up on the Milwaukee Bucks in the No. 5 seed, thanks in part to former Michigan Wolverines shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., who led all scorers with 23 points.
But Detroit got monster contributions from Jalen Duren, who dropped 21 points while snagging 18 rebounds.
The “wiggle man” Malik Beasley matched Duren with 21 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal as Detroit is playoff-bound.
The Pistons went 14-68 last season while going on a 28-game losing streak, breaking an NBA record, but now they’re back to their winning ways as head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has turned this franchise around, as they’ve beaten the Raptors six times in a row.
The Playoff birth is the franchise’s third since 2010, but they’re still fighting for seeding despite being shorthanded.
For the first time since the 2018-19 season, playoff basketball is back in the 313.
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 5, 2025
Including Tobias Harris, who is dealing with a right heel injury, Detroit has been playing All-Star guard Cade Cunningham (Calf), Jaden Ivey (Broken left fibula), and Isaiah Stewart (Suspension), but has still found a way to clinch a playoff birth.
