Pistons (6), Bucks (5), Pacers (4) and Knicks (3) have their NBA playoff seed in the balance with 2 games left in the regular season. Here are the scenarios and odds.
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The Detroit Pistons’ 115-106 win over the New York Knicks on Thursday was the team’s third win in a row in that matchup, and brought them one step closer to securing their first-round NBA playoff matchup.
Had the Pistons lost on Thursday, it would have solidified their position as the No. 6 seed (and guaranteed a first-round matchup with the Knicks). Now, there’s a little more wiggle room for the Pistons to sneak up one spot in the standings.
The win over the Knicks raises the Pistons’ odds of finishing fifth in the Eastern Conference from 14% entering Thursday’s game to 23% entering Friday’s game, per playoffstatus.com. There’s a 77% chance the Pistons remain the sixth seed for the playoffs.
The Pistons (44-36) play their final two games of the regular season against the Milwaukee Bucks (46-34), who currently sit fifth in the conference and have won six straight. The first matchup takes place Friday night at Little Caesars Arena at 7 p.m., while the final regular-season game tips off in Milwaukee on Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games are on national TV.
Here are the Pistons’ playoff scenarios entering Friday, grouped by the potential outcomes over the next two games:
Pistons win both games
- The Pistons and the Bucks would finish with identical 46-36 records, but the Pistons would hold the tiebreaker based on record against Eastern Conference opponents and get the No. 5 seed over the Bucks. The first two tiebreakers, head-to-head and division record, would be tied.
- That would likely match the Pistons up with the Indiana Pacers, who would be locked into the No. 4 seed with any loss or Knicks win over each team’s next two games. The Knicks are 97% to finish No. 3 and Pacers are 97% to be No. 4. Both teams are guaranteed homecourt advantage in the first round.
Pistons win one and lose one
- The Pistons would be locked into the No. 6 seed.
- The Pistons’ playoff opponent would likely be the New York Knicks, who have a 97% chance of clinching the No. 3 seed.
- However, with two Pacers wins and two Knicks losses, the Pacers would hop over the Knicks to get the No. 3 seed and host the Pistons in the first round if the Pistons get the sixth seed.
Pistons lose both games
- It’s the same scenario as above — if the Pistons lose one (or both) of their next two games, they’re locked into the sixth seed.
Because the Pistons have to win both games to secure a higher playoff seed, it might make sense for the team to rest their starters in the second game against the Bucks should they lose the first game since the second game’s outcome wouldn’t determine seeding.
NBA games to watch
- Friday: Bucks at Pistons 7 p.m.
- Friday: Magic at Pacers, 7 p.m.
- Friday: Cavaliers at Knicks, 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday: Pistons at Bucks, 1 p.m.
- Sunday: Knicks at Nets, 1 p.m.
- Sunday: Pacers at Cavs, 1 p.m.
Eastern Conference playoff standings
*Locked into playoff seed entering Friday night
- *1. Cavs (63-17)
- *2. Celtics (59-21)
- 3. Knicks (50-30)
- 4. Pacers (49-31)
- 5. Bucks (46-34)
- 6. Pistons (44-36)
- *7. Magic (40-40)
- 8. Hawks (38-42)
- 9. Bulls (37-43)
- 10. Heat (36-44)
When do NBA playoffs 2025 start?
- The NBA playoffs start next Saturday, April 19 with four Game 1 matchups. The other four series will start Sunday, April 20.
- The NBA is expected to announce the schedule for each series hours after Tuesday night’s two 7/8 play-in tournament games conclude.
You can reach Christian at [email protected].
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