Detroit Pistons Snap 15-Game Playoff Drought, Top Knicks in Game 2 Thriller

Detroit finally has a playoff win to celebrate. The Pistons overcame the New York Knicks 100-94 on Monday night, snapping their brutal 15-game postseason losing streak and grabbing their first playoff victory since the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals. Cade Cunningham was the undeniable star, putting up a monster 33 points and 12 rebounds to send a clear message that the Motor City is back in business—at least for now.

The Pistons, who hadn’t sniffed playoff action since 2019, saw their fortunes shift after Dennis Schroder—acquired in February, mind you—drilled a cold-blooded, tiebreaking 3-pointer with just 55 seconds left. Schroder came off the bench with 20 points, making his sudden impact feel almost cinematic. The Knicks had wiped out a 15-point Pistons lead and tied the game at 94 thanks to a Josh Hart dunk, but Detroit didn’t blink.

Let’s not forget: this Pistons squad went from a dismal 14-win season (complete with a record-setting 28-game losing streak) to a 44-38 turnaround that even Hollywood would call a stretch. In Game 1, they let an eight-point lead slip away as the Knicks unleashed a 21-0 fourth-quarter run. This time, though, Detroit kept its cool and closed the deal, tying the series 1-1 as they head home for Game 3 on Thursday.

Jalen Brunson did his best to spoil the party with 37 points for the third-seeded Knicks, but Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby each managed just 10 points after torching Detroit in the series opener. The Pistons’ defense was dialed in, especially against Cunningham, who bounced back from a rough Game 1 (where he shot just 8-for-21) to dominate the paint and force the Knicks into foul trouble. Detroit took advantage at the line, hitting 14 free throws to New York’s measly two as they built a 55-49 halftime lead.

The Pistons really clamped down in the third quarter, holding New York to a single basket over more than seven minutes. Cunningham and Tobias Harris fueled an 11-0 run, with Paul Reed—filling in for the injured Isaiah Stewart—capping it off and giving Detroit its biggest lead at 68-53. Now, with the series all tied up, Detroit fans have a reason to believe again. Maybe this is the start of a new era, or maybe it’s just a blip—but after 15 straight playoff losses, nobody in Detroit is complaining.