Pistons clinch No. 1 seed with blowout victory vs. 76ers
The Detroit Pistons clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference with blowout victory vs. 76ers on Saturday night.
Nearly two years ago, the Detroit Pistons concluded a four-game road trip in Philadelphia with a 120-102 loss to the 76ers. The loss occurred during the challenging 2023-24 season on April 9, 2024, marking another disappointing year for the Pistons, who finished with a 13-66 record. Not only did they have the worst record in the Eastern Conference, but they also held the worst record in the entire NBA.
On Saturday night at the Xfinity Mobile Arena, the Pistons notched their third consecutive victory in Philadelphia with a 116-93 win over the 76ers. The victory improved Detroit's overall record to 57-21 and, more importantly, secured the Pistons the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2026 NBA playoffs.
The path to the NBA Finals in the East in June will now have to go through the Motor City. BOX SCORE: Pistons 116, 76ers 93 Securing the No. 1 seed and home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs is a testament to the Pistons' growth since their dismal season two years ago.
Their ability to perform well without Cade Cunningham has been one of the clearest indicators of their progress. After his injury, which involved a collapsed left lung, the victory allowed them to improve to 8-2 in the games he's been sidelined. Daniss Jenkins delivered an impressive performance, showing how the Pistons stayed competitive without their star guard.