Getty
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 09: Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff reacts during a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena on November 09, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
Going into their home game on Friday, March 20, the Detroit Pistons knew that the magic number was one.
One win and the Pistons know they are a sure thing to make the 2026 NBA Playoffs. On Friday, the Pistons were presented with a matchup against the Golden State Warriors. They stepped up and delivered exactly what was needed.
Despite Jalen Duren being on the injury report and listed as questionable, the veteran center got the nod to play. He checked in for 21 minutes and led the way for JB Bickerstaff’s team with 23 points, six rebounds, and one steal.
The young guard Daniss Jenkins checked in for 38 minutes and put together an efficient game by going 7-12 from the field and 7-7 from the free-throw line to collect 22 points. He also racked up eight assists, and came down with seven rebounds.
The Pistons defeated the undermanned Warriors 115-101.
By improving to 51-19 on the year, the Pistons officially became the first team in the Eastern Conference to clinch a playoff berth.
JB Bickerstaff Admits Feelings on Pistons’ Big Accomplishment
“They’ve been a joy to coach. They’ve been one of the most connected teams I’ve ever been a part of. I feel fortunate every single day I get to come to work with these guys. … The spirit they play with every night is just different here,” Bickerstaff told reporters, according to The Athletic’s Hunter Patterson.
For Bickerstaff and the Pistons, they are going to the playoffs for the second year in a row.
Bickerstaff joined Detroit as the head coach ahead of the 2024-2025 NBA season. He inherited a young roster with a lot of question marks. The Pistons anticipated being better after years of being at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but nobody predicted their quick rise under Bickerstaff.
The Pistons finished the 2024-2025 season with a 44-38 record. They avoided the Play-In by three games, clinching the sixth seed. Detroit ended up in a first-round battle with the New York Knicks.
It was a hard-fought battle by the Pistons, but they couldn’t seal the deal. In six games, the Knicks ended the Pistons’ playoff run. Once again, the Pistons were expected to be better in 2025-2026, but they have shocked the league.
Potential Playoff Scenarios And Questions
Isaiah Stewart, Jalen Duren, Pistons
GettyThe Detroit Pistons have clinched a spot in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.
The biggest question for the Pistons at the moment is whether they can maintain the No. 1 seed.
The team lost its top player, Cade Cunningham, to an injury that might sideline him until the playoffs. The Pistons will have a better idea of his recovery timeline in two weeks. The Pistons have a 4.0-game lead over the Boston Celtics.
As of March 20, the Play-In picture involves the Charlotte Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and the Atlanta Hawks. If the standings stayed the same without a change in tournament play, the Pistons would draw a series against the Heat.
A lot can change over the next few weeks. The job isn’t done for Detroit, but they can sleep easy knowing that the playoffs are surely in their future again.