MINNEAPOLIS — The Detroit Pistons are on the precipice of locking down an NBA playoff spot, but the wait continued over the weekend.
The Pistons’ magic number did not change due to both the Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic winning.
With seven games left, the Pistons (42-33) are closing in on securing a playoff berth for the first time in six years. After winning three consecutive games without Cade Cunningham — including Friday’s 133-122 upset over the Cleveland Cavaliers — the Pistons dropped Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Seven players and coaches were ejected early in the second quarter, including Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff and players Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland and Marcus Sasser, after a brawl with the Timberwolves’ Naz Reid and Donte DiVincenzo spilled into fans sitting in the front row courtside. It’s currently unclear if any suspensions will follow.
The Pistons have already tripled their win total from last season, clinched a winning record for the first time in nine seasons. They enter Monday as the fifth seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoff race. The top-six seeds are guaranteed a playoff spot, and seeds 7-10 enter the play-in tournament played right after the regular season.
READ MORE: Pistons fight Timberwolves: ‘Bad Boys’ reborn, or a step too far?
So what is the Pistons’ magic number to lock down their playoff spot to complete their epic turnaround?
Let’s answer the pressing questions, including what their magic number is:
Pistons magic number to clinch playoff spot
The Pistons’ magic number remains two after Sunday’s loss. That’s two wins, or a combination of Pistons wins and Atlanta Hawks (36-38) losses. The Hawks are the seventh seed with eight games left for them to play. The Pistons won the season series, 3-1, and hold the tiebreaker over the Hawks, who host Portland on Tuesday night and visit the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday.
The magic number of two also applies to the eighth-seed Orlando Magic (36-39). The Magic won the season series, 2-1, over the Pistons and hold the tiebreaker with seven games remaining on their schedule. The Magic host the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night, then visit the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
When can the Pistons clinch a playoff spot?
The Pistons can clinch a playoff spot as soon as Wednesday night. Here’s what must happen:
If any of these things do not happen, the Pistons will have to wait to clinch a top-six seed.
Pistons playoff race in Eastern Conference standings
Here’s a look at the East playoff standings entering Monday evening:
Currently, the Pistons would face the division rival Pacers in the 4-5 matchup in the first round, with Indiana hosting the first two games of the best-of-seven series. The Pacers hold the tiebreaker if the teams finish the regular season tied, winning the season series 3-1.
The Bucks are sinking fast and have lost four straight without All-Star guard Damian Lillard, who is likely done for the season (blood clot). The teams meet in the final two games of the season in a home-and-home April 11 and 13. Milwaukee controls the season series so far, 2-0.
If the Pistons remain in the 4-5 matchup, the winner of that series would play the winner of the No. 1 vs No. 8 series — likely the Cavs. The NBA does not re-seed after playoff rounds.
The Pistons own an NBA-record 14-game losing streak in the postseason, with their last win coming in 2008, 17 years ago.
READ MORE: 5 moments that sparked Detroit Pistons shocking turnaround
When do the NBA playoffs start?
The NBA playoffs start Saturday, April 19.
The NBA play-in tournament to determine the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds in each conference is April 15-18.
The first round is a best-of-seven series, with the format: 2-2-1-1-1. Each series follows the same format, with the team owning the better regular-season record holding homecourt advantage.
Pistons schedule remaining
The Pistons have seven games left, with the fourth-most difficult schedule based on opponent win percentage (.572), according to Tankathon.com, entering Monday. (Indiana has the No. 20 schedule, .484, and Milwaukee has the No. 25 schedule, .434).
Here is the Pistons’ schedule (records entering Monday):
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons magic number update: How they can clinch NBA playoffs
Reporting by Omari Sankofa II and Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
