Pistons clinch playoffs
The Detroit Pistons officially clinched an NBA playoff spot, completing a notable turnaround for a franchise that had struggled in recent years. The clinch changes the late‑season seeding picture as teams jockey for home‑court and play‑in positions ahead of the mid‑April postseason kickoff. ( )
Detroit’s win came Friday night at Little Caesars Arena, a 115-101 victory over the Golden State Warriors on March 20, 2026. (nba.com)) The result made Detroit the first Eastern Conference club to lock up a postseason berth this season. (nba.com)) The Pistons entered the game listed at 51-19 and are shown atop the East in current playoff projections and the league’s bracket updates. (espn.com)) Jalen Duren led Detroit with 23 points, and Daniss Jenkins started in place of Cade Cunningham and produced 22 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. (africa.espn.com)) Star guard Cade Cunningham has been sidelined with a collapsed lung and will be re‑evaluated in roughly two weeks, forcing the Pistons to rely on Jenkins and depth pieces while he recovers. (espn.com)) This marks back‑to‑back postseason appearances for Detroit — their first consecutive playoff seasons since 2008–09 — and the team has reached 50+ wins for the first time since the 2007–08 campaign. (sports.yahoo.com))
