What Detroit Pistons fans need to know about Knicks entering playoffs
The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III shares insights on the New York Knicks on “The Pistons Pulse” podcast ahead of playoff series. Listen and subscribe!
It has been a long time since the Detroit Pistons last won a playoff game.
So long that the Pistons weren’t even playing in their current home when it last happened.
The Pistons are currently in a 14-game playoff losing streak. That’s not just the longest playoff losing streak in NBA history, it’s also the longest active playoff losing streak in the four major American pro sports.
Here’s the rundown of the longest active playoff losing streaks by league:
- NBA: Detroit Pistons (14 games)
- MLB: Baltimore Orioles (10 games)
- NHL: Washington Capitals (seven games)
- NFL: Miami Dolphins/Pittsburgh Steelers (six games)
When was the last Pistons playoff win?
The last Pistons playoff win came in Game 4 of the 2008 Eastern Conference finals against the eventual champion Boston Celtics, when the Pistons pulled out a 94-75 home win at the Palace of Auburn Hills on May 26, 2008. The Celtics won the next two games, putting them in the NBA Finals and kicking off the Pistons’ historic losing streak.
The Pistons made the playoffs the following year as the No. 8 seed with a 39-43 regular-season record, but fell in four games to the No. 1 seed Cleveland Cavaliers. Following a six-year playoff drought, the Pistons next made the playoffs in 2016 but fell once again to the No. 1 seed Cavaliers in a four-game sweep to the eventual NBA champions.
Detroit last made the playoffs in 2019 in their third season at Little Caesars Arena, squeaking in as the No. 8 seed. They lost in four straight games to the No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks, however, raising their playoff losing streak to an NBA-record 14 games.
How long is the Pistons playoff losing streak?
The Pistons currently have a 14-game playoff losing streak, the longest such streak in NBA history and the longest active playoff losing streak in major American professional sports.
The Pistons overtook the New York Knicks 13-game playoff losing streak (which lasted from 2001-12) with a Game 4 loss 127-104 against the Bucks in the first round on April 22, 2019.
The Pistons hope to snap their losing streak with a win over the Knicks in their first-round series, with Game 1 tipping off on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Madison Square Garden.
When was the last time the Pistons made the playoffs?
The Pistons last made the playoffs in the 2018-19 season, finishing 41-41 and making it as the No. 8 seed.
Their first-round series against the Bucks featured the first two Pistons playoff games ever at Little Caesars Arena. Unfortunately for the Pistons, they both ended in losses.
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