RealGM Basketball Wiretap

26 April 2025

• Isaiah Stewart Misses Game 3 Loss With Right Knee Injury

  Isaiah Stewart missed the Detroit Pistons' 118-116 loss to the New York Knicks in Game 3 due to a right knee injury,

  Stewart has now missed two games in a row with the injury.

  Stewart finished with two points and five rebounds in 19 minutes in Game 1.

• Isaiah Stewart Underwent Imaging On His Leg After Game 1

  Detroit Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart was spotted hobbling with a leg injury during his team's Game 1 loss at the New York Knicks. Stewart reportedly underwent imaging following Game 1 to determine the extent of the injury.

  No injury update for Stewart has been provided by the Pistons as of yet. With Game 2 of the first-round series scheduled for Monday, Detroit will provide an injury report later in the day on Sunday.

  Stewart exited Game 1 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The Knicks then went on a big run to take control of the game. Stewart didn't return after playing 18 minutes, which was below his regular season average of 20 minutes.

• 2025 NBA Playoffs: First-Round Matchups Set As Regular Season Concludes

  The Oklahoma City Thunder secured homecourt advantage for the duration of the playoffs with their 68-14 record and NBA-best +12.9 Net Rating. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics were bunched together in second and third in both record and Net Rating.

  The best matchups of the first round figure to be the Los Angeles Lakers against Minnesota Timberwolves less than a year after Luka Doncic faced them with his former team in the Western Conference Finals. The Houston Rockets against either the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies will also be close and contentious, as should the New York Knicks against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference.

  The opening games of the playoffs begin next weekend following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday.

  Western Conference
  • (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies or Sacramento Kings/Dallas Mavericks
  • (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies
  • (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
  • (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers

  Eastern Conference
  • (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks or Chicago Bulls/Miami Heat
  • (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks
  • (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
  • (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
  
  NBA Play-In Tournament
  Western Conference
  • (8) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Golden State Warriors (Tues., Apr. 15 - 10 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Dallas Mavericks vs. (9) Sacramento Kings (Wed., Apr. 16 - 10 p.m. ET on ESPN)
  
  Eastern Conference
  • (8) Atlanta Hawks vs. (7) Orlando Magic (Tues., Apr. 15 - 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Miami Heat vs. (9) Chicago Bulls (Wed., Apr. 16 - 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)

• Jaden Ivey Cleared To Resume Basketball Activities

  Jaden Ivey has been cleared to resume basketball activities after suffering a broken left fibula on January 1st. Ivey is entering the first phase of a re-conditioning program and that his status will be updated again in two weeks.

  The Detroit Pistons will be in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, which could potentially allow Ivey to return this season.

  Ivey averaged 17.6 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists in 30 games (all starts) this season.

• J.B. Bickerstaff On Pistons Making Playoffs: 'It's A Big Deal'

  The Detroit Pistons clinched a playoff berth on Friday night following a 117-105 win over the Toronto Raptors.

  "It's a big deal," said J.B. Bickerstaff. "We typically don't take time to reflect on where we are, but this is an opportunity for this group to reflect on where it is, where it's come from and what it's been able to accomplish together."

  The Pistons finished with the worst record in the league last season. No team has gone from winning 14 games to making the playoffs the following year.

  "We're not done yet," said Jalen Duren. "We're going to take a moment to enjoy what we've accomplished, but it's only milestones. The real goal, obviously, is to bring championships back to our city."

  The Pistons have not won a playoff series since 2008.

• Cade Cunningham: I Think I Can Be The Best Basketball Player In The World

  Cade Cunningham has emerged as the driving force behind one of the most remarkable single-season turnarounds in NBA history, leading the Detroit Pistons to a 42-32 record after the franchise posted just 14 wins last season. The former No. 1 overall pick has silenced critics while establishing himself as a frontrunner for the NBA's Most Improved Player award.

  "I think I can be the best basketball player in the world. I think I'm on my way," Cunningham told ESPN about his ambitions. "I want people to understand that and that's what I'm working to show people every time I play."

  Cunningham is averaging career highs across the board with 25.7 points, 9.2 assists and a 46.2% field goal percentage. Cunningham's leadership qualities have proven equally valuable, especially during the team's darkest moments. After the Pistons set an NBA record with 27 consecutive losses in a single season last December, he gathered his teammates and urged them: "Don't jump off the boat. Right now is the easiest time to stand off and be on your own, but we need to continue to lean on each other and continue to push each other."

  "Very rarely do you find a guy who can grow and develop and not leave people behind," Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "Cade has the uncanny ability to not only take care of himself and do what's best for his development and growth, but he makes sure that his teammates are always right alongside."

  Zion Williamson believes Cunningham isn't receiving proper recognition: "I don't think people are giving him his full respect. In my opinion, he's an All-NBA player this year." Former Pistons great Grant Hill, to whom Cunningham is often compared, appreciates the similarities: "He thinks the game at a very high level, and he's got just this incredible feel and incredible basketball instincts."

  Pistons owner Tom Gores expressed unwavering confidence in his franchise player. "What I saw in Cade is not something you just see on the court. He embraced the adversity; he didn't put it on anybody else," Gores told ESPN. "Part of the reason I didn't blink is he didn't blink."

  The Pistons signed Cunningham to a five-year max extension this past offseason and he is expected to qualify for the Rose rule provision to elevate it from $224 million to $269 million.

• Cade Cunningham Expected To Be Named To All-NBA Team, Qualify For Five-Year, $269M Deal

  Cade Cunningham finished seventh ESPN's final MVP straw poll for the 24-25 season and is now considered a virtual lock to make an All-NBA team. Cunningham is averaging 25.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 9.2 assists and has the Detroit Pistons firmly in the playoffs with one of the NBA's most impressive rapid turnarounds considering their 14-68 record in 23-24.

  Cunningham and the Pistons agreed to a five-year max contract during the 2024 offseason that also contained the Rose Rule provision, which will increase the value from $224 million to $269 million if he makes an All-NBA team this season. Cunningham's contract will start at 30 percent of the salary cap as opposed to 25 percent.

  "I'm genuinely excited to see what he, and they, can do," a West executive said. "They just have to go through it and see what your talent looks like on that stage....

  "Let's see how he does against game planning for him over a seven-game series. There's a lot of things you don't know until you go through it."

• Isaiah Stewart Suspended Two Games; DiVincenzo, Holland, Reid, Sasser Get One-Game Bans

  The NBA has issued the following suspensions following Sunday's altercation between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons.

  The incident began when Ron Holland II committed a defensive foul on Naz Reid with 8:36 remaining in the second quarter of the Timberwolves' 123-104 victory over the Pistons on March 30 at Target Center. Following that foul, Reid pointed at and confronted Holland. Holland then pushed Donte DiVincenzo and in response, DiVincenzo escalated the incident by shoving Holland II in the chest. The two players along with Reid became entangled and fell into the spectator stands. Isaiah Stewart and Marcus Sasser then entered the altercation near the spectator stands and shoved DiVincenzo and Reid, which resulted in a continued escalation of the situation. For their roles, all five players were assessed technical fouls and ejected from the game.

  The length of Stewart's suspension is based in part on his repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts, announced the NBA.

  • Isaiah Stewart: 2 game suspension
  • Donte DiVincenzo: 1 game suspension
  • Ron Holland: 1 game suspension
  • Naz Reid: 1 game suspension
  • Marcus Sasser: 1 game suspension

• Seven Ejected After Pistons-Timberwolves Brawl

  During the Detroit Pistons-Minnesota Timberwolves game on Sunday, a fight broke out that spilled into the stands. The end result were seven ejections, including both players and coaches.

  With 8:36 remaining in the second quarter, Pistons rookie wing Ron Holland II was called for a foul on Timberwolves center Naz Reid. Reid didn't like the way he was fouled by Holland and appeared to say something to the rookie. Wolves guard Donte DiVincenzo initially tried to get in between the two players, but ended up shoving Holland. That resulted in Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart II and Pistons guard Marcus Sasser getting involved.

  After the melee spilled into the seats along the baseline, Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Minnesota assistant coach Pablo Prigioni were also ejected for their actions during the altercation. Holland, Reid, DiVincenzo, Stewart, and Sasser, were all ejected from the game on the player side.

• Cade Cunningham Sits Third Straight Game With Calf Contusion

  Cade Cunningham missed the Detroit Pistons' 133-122 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night with a calf contusion.

  Cunningham, who hurt his calf last week against the Mavs, has now missed three games in a row with the injury.

  Cunningham is listed as day-to-day.