Pistons clinch playoff spot

Detroit clinched the berth Friday night with a 115-101 home win over the Golden State Warriors at Little Caesars Arena, becoming the Eastern Conference’s first team to secure a playoff spot on March 20, 2026. (nba.com) The victory improved Detroit’s record to 51-19 and left the Pistons sitting atop the Eastern Conference as the projected No. 1 seed. (espn.com) (nba.com) All-Star guard Cade Cunningham was ruled out with a left lung pneumothorax (a collapsed lung) on March 19 and the team announced he will be re-evaluated in two weeks, sidelining him for at least the opening weeks of the postseason push. (nba.com) (espn.com) With Cunningham out, Jalen Duren led the clinching game with 23 points and Daniss Jenkins supplied a 22-point, seven-rebound, eight-assist outing after being inserted into the starting lineup. (espn.com) (usatoday.com) Detroit’s front office leaned on a quiet deadline approach that still reshaped depth: Detroit traded Jaden Ivey in a three-team deal to acquire Kevin Huerter and Dario Šarić, and the club converted Daniss Jenkins’ two‑way status into a two‑year standard NBA contract on Feb. 8. (nba.com) (detroitnews.com) The clinch gives Detroit back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time since the 2008–09 season, and the Pistons also reached 50 wins for the first time since 2007–08 before Friday’s victory. (msn.com) (en.wikipedia.org) The NBA’s SoFi Play-In Tournament runs April 14–17 and the first round of the 2026 playoffs opens April 18, calendar dates the Pistons will be targeting for a full roster re-evaluation ahead of postseason matchups. (nba.com)