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Pistons End 18-Year Drought, Clinch Division Crown
Photo credit: NBA
After nearly two decades, the Detroit Pistons are back on top of their division.
Detroit secured the Central Division title with a 127–116 win over the Toronto Raptors, marking their first division crown since the 2007–08 season. The victory capped a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that has spent years rebuilding.
“You take pride in understanding how hard it is to do these things in this league,” Pistons coach J. B. Bickerstaff said after the game. “You take pride in the fact that you have a group of young men who have grown and achieved certain milestones.”
“It’s a part of the process, and we expect more.”
The milestone comes after a difficult stretch for Detroit, including a 14–68 season and a 28-game losing streak that tied an NBA record. The Pistons have since shown steady improvement, building toward their current success.
With star guard Cade Cunningham sidelined due to a lung injury, the Pistons leaned on big man Jalen Duren, who delivered a standout performance with 31 points on efficient shooting, along with nine rebounds.
“He’s so talented,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s a different kind of big that you see in the NBA. You have space-up bigs and post-up bigs, but when you have somebody who can do both, he’s a problem for people.”
Detroit also got key contributions from guard Daniss Jenkins, who helped steady the backcourt in Cunningham’s absence and played a crucial role in the win over Toronto.
Back in 2007–08, the Pistons were still a powerhouse, finishing 59–23 under coach Flip Saunders and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth straight season.
But after that era, the franchise went through years of instability, struggling to return to contention.
Now, with the division title secured, the Pistons are looking ahead. The win signals a shift from rebuilding toward contention, with the team aiming to make a deeper run in the playoffs.
Detroit secured the Central Division title with a 127–116 win over the Toronto Raptors, marking their first division crown since the 2007–08 season. The victory capped a remarkable turnaround for a franchise that has spent years rebuilding.
“You take pride in understanding how hard it is to do these things in this league,” Pistons coach J. B. Bickerstaff said after the game. “You take pride in the fact that you have a group of young men who have grown and achieved certain milestones.”
“It’s a part of the process, and we expect more.”
The milestone comes after a difficult stretch for Detroit, including a 14–68 season and a 28-game losing streak that tied an NBA record. The Pistons have since shown steady improvement, building toward their current success.
With star guard Cade Cunningham sidelined due to a lung injury, the Pistons leaned on big man Jalen Duren, who delivered a standout performance with 31 points on efficient shooting, along with nine rebounds.
“He’s so talented,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s a different kind of big that you see in the NBA. You have space-up bigs and post-up bigs, but when you have somebody who can do both, he’s a problem for people.”
Detroit also got key contributions from guard Daniss Jenkins, who helped steady the backcourt in Cunningham’s absence and played a crucial role in the win over Toronto.
Back in 2007–08, the Pistons were still a powerhouse, finishing 59–23 under coach Flip Saunders and reaching the Eastern Conference Finals for the sixth straight season.
But after that era, the franchise went through years of instability, struggling to return to contention.
Now, with the division title secured, the Pistons are looking ahead. The win signals a shift from rebuilding toward contention, with the team aiming to make a deeper run in the playoffs.
Apr 1, 2026
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