It’s been a resurgent season for the Detroit Pistons.
Detroit sits at fifth in the Eastern Conference standings heading into a matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET on ESPN).
Last season, the Pistons won a franchise-low 14 games, with an NBA-record 28-game losing streak. That followed up a 2022-23 campaign when they had just 17 wins, THE third-lowest total in team history.
However, the Pistons have found their winning stride this season.
In January, the Pistons’ record went over .500 BY more than five games for the first time since April 2019. That coincided with a five-game winning streak, snapping a stretch of 2,130 days between five-game win streaks.
Between Feb. 7 and March 3, Detroit won 10 of 11 games, including a victory over the defending champion Boston Celtics at home.
Vibes are high in Detroit as the playoffs arrive — it has already clinched its first winning season since 2015-16. Here are the factors that played into the Pistons’ resurgence.
Historic turnaround in wins
Detroit sits at 42 wins after winning just 14 last season. The Pistons are the first team in NBA history to triple their win total from the previous season (excluding lockout-shortened seasons).
The 28-game — and counting — increase in wins is the seventh-largest ever from the previous season. Detroit is also tied with the 2008-09 Miami Heat for the largest win increase by a team that finished with the worst record the season prior in league history.
Miami went on to lose in the first round of the playoffs that season to the Atlanta Hawks.
Cunningham’s All-Star year
Cade Cunningham has been at the forefront of Detroit’s success. He earned his first All-Star nod in February and going into Wednesday is averaging 25.7 points, 9.2 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Cunningham, who is listed as day-to-day with a calf injury, is on pace to become the first Pistons player to average 25 points and nine assists in a season in franchise history. He has also recorded nine triple-doubles — including three straight in November — joining Grant Hill as the only player to do so in franchise history.
An offense thriving in transition
No different than the rest of the league, 3-point shooting is at the hub of the Pistons’ offense. Their 12.8 3-point makes per game this season are on track to be the most in team history. However, they also find success driving to the rim and getting out in transition.
Detroit is averaging 19 fast-break points and 19.7 points off turnovers per game, both second most in the NBA. The Pistons also average 53 paint points per game, sixth best in the league.
‘Bad Boys’ are back?
The Pistons of the 1980s made a name for themselves with imposing and physical defense. This year’s team has adopted a similar identity.
Detroit players have been hit with a league-leading 57 technical fouls, the most by any team over the past decade. Last Sunday’s matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves included a skirmish that led to three Pistons being suspended: Isaiah Stewart, Marcus Sasser and Ron Holland II. The Pistons average 20.7 personal fouls per game, the third most in the league.
Even with the personal and technical foul tendencies, Detroit still boasts a strong defense. It allows 45.9 paint points per game and a rebound percentage of 51.4% — both fourth best in the league. The Pistons also allow the 13th fewest opposing points per game at 113.1.
Sixth Man of the Year contender
For all of Cunningham’s success, Malik Beasley has offered a similar punch off the bench.
He’s averaging 16.3 points per game while shooting 42.3% from deep, just shy of his career-high of 42.6%. His 15.4 points off the bench is second most in the league behind Cleveland Cavaliers forward De’Andre Hunter.
The shooting guard has sunk a career-high 292 3-pointers off the bench, a Pistons franchise record for 3s in a season. It is also tied for the ninth most in a season all-time. Beasley can join James Harden, Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry as the only three players to hit 300 3-pointers in a season.
Beasley, alongside fellow veterans Tobias Harris and Tim Hardaway Jr., provides experienced 3-point shooting to complement Cunningham.
ESPN Research contributed to this story.
Source: espn.com