Pistons win first playoff game in 17 years, series vs. Knicks tied 1-1

Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham scores and knocks down New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson
Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) scores and knocks down New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (11) during the first half of Game 2 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, April 21, 2025, in New York Photo credit (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

(WWJ/AP) — Detroit Pistons fans have something to celebrate.

The team snapped its NBA-record 15-game postseason losing streak Monday night — by beating the New York Knicks 100-94 in Game 2 of their playoff series.

Cade Cunningham had 33 points and 12 rebounds, and Dennis Schroder made the game-winning 3-pointer with 55 seconds left for the Pistons. Jalen Brunson led the Knicks with 37 points.

This sets up for a Pivotal game three, this Thursday night, April 24, at Little Caesars Arena.

What's so special about this team?

"It's the makeup of the men in the locker room," said head coach JB Bickerstaff. "Like, we don't have guys who give in; we don't have guys who make excuses. We just have guys that show up every single day and lay in on the line for one another, and that's all you can ask for."

"They don't want to let each other down," he said.

Detroit got its first playoff victory since Game 4 of the 2008 Eastern Conference finals against Boston.

The Pistons hadn't even been to the postseason since 2019.

Now, when playoff basketball returns to Detroit on Thursday, the team's challenge to the fans has been simple: make LCA an even tougher atmosphere than Madison Square Garden.

Featured Image Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)