The Detroit Pistons continued their remarkable 2024-25 NBA season with a huge 133-122 win over the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Behind 32 points from Tim Hardaway, in the absence of Cade Cunningham, the Pistons improved to 42-32 for the season.
In the process, the Pistons became the first team to triple the number of wins they got in the prior campaign, according to ESPN. They posted the league-worst record (14-68) in the 2023-24 season, prompting Monty Williams’ firing.
The Pistons are the first team in NBA history to triple their win total from the previous season 😱
What a turnaround for Detroit 😤 pic.twitter.com/t8nbclZHhW
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 29, 2025
J.B. Bickerstaff, the Cavaliers’ head coach until last season, defied the odds (+1500 per Vegas Insider ) to lead this remarkable turnaround.
They still have eight games left on the calendar to improve their record and even finish with a top-three seed in the East. Right now, they’re 2.5 games behind the Indiana Pacers and 5.5 games behind the New York Knicks)
In the prior five seasons, the Pistons won 20, 20, 23, 17 and 14 games, respectively. Entering this season, many thought they would be stuck on the bottom of the standings again, but the team’s evolution has them as one of the best storylines of the campaign.
Cade Cunningham is leading the charge with 25.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game, shooting 46.2% from the field, 35.4% from beyond the arc and 85.8% from the free-throw line.
The Pistons are finally a competitive squad with a No. 1 option praised for his playstyle and a supporting cast ready to step up when he’s unavailable.
The rest of the calendar will have a playoff-like vibe. Detroit will visit the Minnesota Timberwolves, Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors before hosting the Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks and Milwaukee Bucks.
The Bucks will host the Pistons for the season finale.