The Detroit Pistons snapped their NBA-record 15-game playoff losing streak with a 100-94 victory over the New York Knicks to level their Eastern Conference first-round series at one game apiece. Detroit’s Cade Cunningham scored 33 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, and Dennis Schroder added 20 points off the bench, including a go-ahead three-pointer with 55.7 seconds left, as the Pistons thwarted the Knicks’ fourth quarter rally on Monday.
The Pistons, in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, notched their first playoff victory since Game 4 of the 2008 Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics. Two days after the Knicks authored a 21-0 scoring run to rally in Game 1, the Pistons were pushed to the finish in a fast-paced, physical encounter at Madison Square Garden. They led by as many as 15 in the third quarter, but the Knicks had cut the deficit to eight going into the final period.
New York star Jalen Brunson scored 14 of his 37 points in the fourth and fed Josh Hart for a dunk that tied it at 94-94 with 1:15 to play. But Schroder answered immediately, drilling a three-pointer that put the Pistons ahead for good. The Knicks came up empty on three straight possessions, while Schroder and Jalen Duren connected at the free throw line to seal Detroit’s win.
Detroit’s Tobias Harris scored 15 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, and Duren had 12 points and 13 boards. Mikal Bridges scored 19 for the Knicks as Karl-Anthony Towns and OG Anunoby were held to 10 apiece. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau noted that the Pistons went to the free throw line 34 times to the Knicks’ 19.
In another exciting matchup, the Los Angeles Clippers bounced back from a narrow Game 1 defeat, beating the Denver Nuggets 105-102 in Denver. Kawhi Leonard had a brilliant 39-point performance for the Clippers, making 15 of his 19 shot attempts. The Clippers withstood NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokic’s triple-double of 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists to level their Western Conference series at 1-1.
The game featured 18 lead changes, showcasing the intensity and competitiveness on both sides. Leonard set the tone early, making nine of his 10 shots in the first half and sending the Clippers into halftime up 55-52 with a buzzer-beating three-pointer. In a game that saw the Nuggets tie it at 100-100 with 2:07 to play on a three-pointer by Jamal Murray, Norman Powell came up with a steal and drained a three-pointer, and Leonard made a jump shot to put the Clippers up 105-102.
Leonard stole a Jokic pass with 37.3 seconds left, sealing the victory for Los Angeles as Christian Braun and Jokic missed in the waning seconds. “I just kept going and stayed in the zone,” Leonard said. “I didn’t worry about what shots were making or missing. I just kept shooting.”
The Pistons' victory marks a significant moment in their franchise history, ending a 17-year playoff win drought. They had not won a postseason game since 2008, and this victory not only levels the series but also brings hope and excitement back to Detroit fans. Coach JB Bickerstaff expressed pride in his team’s resilience, stating, “We did what we were supposed to do. And that was it.”
As the series shifts back to Detroit for Game 3 on Thursday, April 24, 2025, the Pistons aim to continue their momentum and capitalize on the home-court advantage. The atmosphere is expected to be electric as fans anticipate their first playoff game in years.
Meanwhile, the Clippers will also head home for Game 3, looking to build on their win against the Nuggets in Inglewood. With both teams now leveling their respective series, the stakes are high as they prepare for the critical next games.
As the playoffs progress, the excitement continues to build, with teams battling not just for wins but for a chance at the championship. Fans across the league are eagerly watching as underdogs rise and stars shine in the postseason spotlight.
