Cover Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images

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The Detroit Pistons will play for their first playoff victory since 2008 tonight against the New York Knicks. 

This is the first playoff series for Detroit in the Cade Cunningham era. Detroit last made the playoffs in 2019. Cunningham was the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. 

Detroit has been swept out of the playoffs their last three appearances, in 2019 to the Bucks, 2016 to the Cavs and 2009 to the Cavs. Could things be different this year? 

The Pistons won three out of four matchups against the Knicks in the regular season, and they proved they can win in New York. That matters a lot because the Knicks (51-31) own home court advantage, having finished with a better record than the Pistons (44-38). 

Cunningham shining like an All-Star is a must if the Pistons are to upset the Knicks. According to the Detroit Free Press, “In four regular-season games against the Knicks, Cunningham averaged 30.8 points, 8.3 assists and five rebounds on 56.3% overall shooting and 52% shooting from 3.” 

Scoring should not be a problem. In their three wins against New York, the Pistons averaged 119.7 points per game. This is higher than their season average of 115.5 points per game, per NBA.com. New York gave up 111.7 points per game in the regular season, per StatMuse. 

Locking in on defense will be important, and Detroit has proven they can do it. In their three wins against New York, the Pistons gave up 112 points per game to the Knicks. On the season, overall, Detroit gave up 113.6 points per game to opponents. 

Detroit has proven it can be better than its season averages on offense and defense against the Knicks, and this series could favor the Pistons. 

Barring injury, my prediction is Detroit wins the series in six games. 

Regular Season Results: 

115-106 on April 10 at home 

124-119 on Jan. 13 at New York 

120-111 on Dec. 7 at New York 

98-128 on Nov. 1 at home 

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