The Detroit Pistons secured a long-awaited playoff victory, snapping their NBA-record 15-game playoff losing streak with a 100-94 win over the New York Knicks to tie their Eastern Conference first-round series at 1-1.
Cade Cunningham led the charge for Detroit, posting a stellar 33 points and 12 rebounds, while Dennis Schroder made a crucial impact off the bench, scoring 20 points—including a clutch three-pointer with just 55.7 seconds left to put the Pistons ahead for good.
The win marked Detroit’s first playoff victory since 2008, when they defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals. The Pistons, in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, weathered a strong fourth-quarter rally from the Knicks, who cut a 15-point third-quarter deficit down to just eight heading into the final period.
New York’s Jalen Brunson, who finished with 37 points, led a comeback in the fourth, scoring 14 points, including an assist to Josh Hart for a dunk that tied the game at 94-94. However, Schroder’s clutch three-pointer moments later helped seal the Pistons’ first playoff victory in nearly two decades.
The Knicks struggled in the final minutes, missing three straight possessions, while Detroit’s Tobias Harris (15 points, 13 rebounds) and Jalen Duren (12 points, 13 rebounds) helped maintain their lead. Despite Brunson’s efforts, New York was unable to regain control, leaving Detroit poised for Game 3 at home on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers tied their Western Conference series with a 105-102 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Kawhi Leonard led the charge with 39 points on 15-of-19 shooting, helping Los Angeles recover from a narrow overtime loss in Game 1.
