Pistons Can Clinch Top Seed in East With Celtics Loss

NBA announces critical playoff scenario for Detroit Pistons ahead of Celtics-Bucks matchup.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:54pm

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A cubist, geometric painting featuring overlapping planes of bright blue, red, and green, representing the competitive energy of a high-stakes NBA playoff matchup.The Pistons' quest for a top playoff seed is complicated by the uncertain status of star player Cade Cunningham.Boston Today

The NBA announced that the Detroit Pistons can officially clinch the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed with a Boston Celtics loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday night. The Pistons, currently 56-21, hold a comfortable 4.5 game lead over the 51-25 Celtics with just under two weeks left in the regular season. However, the Pistons will have to make a playoff run without their star player Cade Cunningham, who has been sidelined since March with a collapsed lung.

Why it matters

Securing the No. 1 seed in the East would give the Pistons home-court advantage throughout the playoffs, which could be crucial in their quest to win their first NBA championship since 2004. However, the Pistons' chances of making a deep playoff run will be significantly impacted by the status of Cade Cunningham, their two-time All-Star point guard who has been out with a serious injury.

The details

The Pistons have controlled the Eastern Conference standings for most of the regular season, despite dealing with Cunningham's injury. They've won 8 of their last 10 games to maintain a comfortable lead over the Celtics. Cunningham was having an All-NBA caliber season, averaging 24.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 9.9 assists per game before going down with a collapsed lung on March 17. The Pistons are holding out hope that Cunningham can return for the playoffs, but his status remains uncertain.

  • The Pistons can clinch the No. 1 seed in the East with a Celtics loss on Friday, April 3.
  • Cunningham has been sidelined since March 17 with a collapsed lung.

The players

Detroit Pistons

An NBA team that currently holds the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 56-21 record.

Cade Cunningham

The Pistons' two-time All-Star point guard who has been out since March 17 with a collapsed lung, putting his playoff availability in question.

Boston Celtics

The Pistons' closest competitor in the Eastern Conference standings, with a 51-25 record.

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What’s next

The Pistons will have more clarity on Cunningham's status next week when he is evaluated again. In the meantime, the team is focused on closing out the regular season strong and securing the top seed in the Eastern Conference.

The takeaway

The Pistons' quest for their first NBA championship since 2004 will hinge on the health of Cade Cunningham, their star player who has been sidelined with a serious injury. While securing the No. 1 seed would give them home-court advantage, the Pistons' playoff success will ultimately depend on whether Cunningham can return and lead the team deep into the postseason.