The Detroit Pistons have clinched home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs, securing the East’s top seed for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
Detroit accomplished the milestone while missing franchise player Cade Cunningham, underscoring the team’s ability to deliver results even without its centerpiece.
Defense drives the finish
The Pistons’ push to the No. 1 spot was fueled by a defense characterized as “gritty,” a defining element as they closed out the regular season with the conference’s best positioning. With home court now locked in for every Eastern Conference series they play, Detroit enters the postseason with the bracket advantage that comes with finishing first.
For a franchise that hasn’t held the East’s top seed since 2006-07, the achievement marks a notable return to the conference’s summit—earned while navigating the absence of Cunningham and leaning on a defensive identity to get across the line.