In the absence of Star Cade Cunningham, Dennis Schröder is filling up the role of the playmaker in the absence of Star Cade Cunningham. With the victory against Cleveland Cavaliers, the top team in the east, the pistons underpinned their ambitions for the playoffs.
National team captain Schröder, for the injured star director Cunngham in the starting line-up came to 16 points and 10 assists in the 133:122 win of the Pistons. In victory against the Cavs, the fifth win from the last six games, it once again became clear that Schröder with his fast attacks as playmakers can play a good role in the pistons.
Tim Hardaway jr. achieved a personal seasonal best with 32 points, the pistons showed a strong team performance, Jalen Duren (16 points, 13 rebounds) and Ausur Thompson (18 points, 10 rebounds) also came to a double double.
Detroit also survived the Cleveland’s final sprint. Cavs-Guard Donovan Mitchell scored 22 of his 38 points in the final quarter alone. “That reminded me of the Atlanta Days today,” Schröder (31) wrote on Instagram. Already at his first stop in the NBA, he had played with Hardaway at the Atlanta Hawks.
Pistons with Schröder clearly on playoff course
Detroit entered the 42nd victory of the season, so the pistons will be completed again for the first time since 2016 the regular season with more victories than defeats. As fifth in the east, Detroit is clearly on playoff course, with just one win less in the account than the Indiana Pacers in fourth place.
This would also be a possible duel in the first playoff round: If the pistons assert themselves with Schröder, they could then meet Cleveland again in the eastern semi-final, which the Eastern Conference will continue to lead with five wins in front of the Boston Celtics.
NBA playoffs
In the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference The six best teams each reach the playoffs. The four teams behind each conference in the play-ins each play out two other participants. These 16 teams play the NBA title in the playoffs in a tournament tree divided into west and east.
Warriors again with curry
The Golden State Warriors can also hope for the direct entry into the final round. At 111: 95 at the New Orleans Pelicans, superstar Stephen Curry was back on the court. After his injury break, Curry scored 23 points as the best thrower of the game.
With 42 wins seventh seventh in the west, the Warriors are in sixth place with the Los Angeles Clippers, which entitles you to move into the playoffs directly. There are still nine games in the main round for both teams.