Detroit Pistons Break 30-Game Skid With Buzzer-Beating Thriller — Highlights, Reactions & What It Means for the Season

Opening buzz surrounds the Detroit Pistons as they prepare to build on last season’s 30-win turnaround and first playoff win since 2008, a leap that jolted the franchise back onto the NBA map. Energized by a roster that is both deeper and more position-versatile, head coach Monty Williams is stressing lineup flexibility after minor preseason injuries prompted cautious rest for several rotation pieces. Star guard Cade Cunningham enters the 2025-26 campaign on short lists of legitimate MVP dark horses thanks to last year’s 24.7-point, 7.2-assist breakout and steady two-way growth. His primary running mates—second-year wing Ausar Thompson and front-court anchor Jalen Duren—headline a young core now negotiating rookie-scale extensions well ahead of next summer’s deadline; Portland’s decision to lock in Shaedon Sharpe at similar terms has reportedly strengthened Thompson’s negotiating leverage in Detroit. Jaden Ivey underwent an offseason arthroscopic procedure but resumed full workouts this week and is expected to suit up when the Pistons host the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 22 to open the regular season. Front-office lead J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledged that juggling multiple extension timelines while preserving future cap flexibility remains “the next big chess move” for Detroit’s rebuild. Key storylines to watch • Can Cunningham’s MVP push translate into a top-five Eastern Conference seed? • Will Thompson’s improved three-point stroke carry over from preseason, easing spacing concerns? • How quickly can Ivey regain rhythm after surgery, and what does that mean for backcourt rotations? • Will veteran additions like Bojan Bogdanović and newly signed backup center Isaiah Hartenstein stabilize second-unit scoring and rim protection? • How aggressively will GM Troy Weaver navigate the trade market if Detroit starts fast? The schedule sets up opportunity: nine of the Pistons’ first 13 games are at Little Caesars Arena, and seven come against teams that missed last year’s playoffs. If Detroit capitalizes early, national attention—and search traffic—figures to snowball just as rapidly as the franchise’s on-court resurgence.