Pistons reach 60 wins
Detroit clinched the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed and recorded its first 60‑win season since 2005‑06, extending their late‑season surge with a third straight win. (x.com) That finish reshaped seeding across the East as the league heads into play‑in and playoff scheduling. (sports.yahoo.com)
Detroit finished 60-22 on Sunday, giving the Pistons their first 60-win season in 20 years and the top seed in the Eastern Conference. (nba.com) The 60th win came in a 133-121 road victory over the Indiana Pacers in the regular-season finale. Detroit led wire to wire and closed the year on a three-game winning streak. (sports.yahoo.com) It is only the third 60-win season in franchise history, and the first since the 2005-06 team finished 64-18. Detroit had already locked up the East’s No. 1 seed on April 4 with a win over Philadelphia. (newsbreak.com) (detroitnews.com) That result settled the top of the conference before the play-in tournament begins on April 14 and the playoffs open on April 18. Detroit will face the eventual No. 8 seed after the East play-in field is sorted out. (nba.com) (sports.yahoo.com) The rest of the East tightened behind them. Yahoo Sports reported that Toronto claimed the last guaranteed playoff berth, while Philadelphia, Orlando, Charlotte and Miami were pushed into the play-in tournament for the final two spots. (sports.yahoo.com) Detroit’s late push came even after Cade Cunningham missed time down the stretch with a collapsed lung, according to Bleacher Report. Sporting News wrote before the final weekend that the Pistons had already secured the conference’s top seed despite his recent absence. (bleacherreport.com) (sportingnews.com) The franchise had not reached the postseason since 2006, Yahoo Sports noted in its game report on the 60th win. Now Detroit goes in with home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference bracket and a week to wait for its first-round opponent. (sports.yahoo.com)
