With six games left, the Detroit Pistons already have clinched the franchise’s most successful season in nearly 20 years.

They improved to 55-21 (the franchise’s most victories since winning 59 in 2007-08) with their 127-116 win over the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, March 31. The remaining six games on the schedule are gravy for a team well on pace to finish as the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Can they reach 60 wins for just the third time in franchise history? here’s a prediction of how their final stretch will play out, and where they’ll ultimately finish.

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HEALING CADE? Cade Cunningham joins Pistons on bench for 1st time since injury

April 2: vs Minnesota Timberwolves

Prediction: T’wolves win, 115-111.

The Pistons shut down Minnesota’s offense Saturday, holding the Timberwolves to just 87 points in a 22-point blowout. It’ll be tough to replicate that performance with Anthony Edwards, who missed last week’s game in Minneapolis, back in the lineup at Little Caesars Arena.

April 4: at Philadelphia 76ers

Prediction: Pistons win, 117-116.

This feels like the first time the Pistons will face the Sixers this season despite being 3-0 against them. They’ve yet to face Joel Embiid and Paul George, who have battled injuries and suspension, respectively. The duo likely will start against the Pistons this Saturday however. It will be a tough one, but the Pistons went down to the wire against the playoff squads Oklahoma City Thunder and Atlanta Hawks without Cade Cunningham. They have a depth advantage and should be able to slow down George and Tyrese Maxey.

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April 6: at Orlando Magic

Prediction: Pistons win, 111-106.

The Pistons and Magic embraced similar styles of play – prioritizing shots at the rim over 3-pointers on offense, and roughhousing with opponents on defense. But the Pistons simply are the better team on both ends of the floor, and the best in the league at executing their particular style of play. Even without Cunningham, I like their odds of pulling this one off on the road.

More: Ranking the Detroit Pistons’ potential first round playoff matchups

April 8: vs Milwaukee Bucks

Prediction: Pistons win, 125-107.

The Bucks have lost 14 of 18 games and have already been eliminated from playoff contention. It should be a decisive win for the Pistons in their home finale.

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April 10: at Charlotte Hornets

Prediction: Hornets win, 124-117

There’s a good chance that the Pistons, by this time next week, will have clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They eventually will start winding down their starters in preparation for the playoffs. The Hornets, on the other hand, are in a close battle for play-in position with the Magic and Miami Heat. Charlotte has been hot through the back half of the season and will look to pounce on a potentially shorthanded Pistons team in its home finale.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff talks to his team before the start of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff talks to his team before the start of a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Detroit Pistons guard Javonte Green (31) shoots a 3-point basket against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) drives down the court as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) defends during the first quarter at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff talks to an official after a play against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first quarter at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Detroit Pistons guard Caris LeVert (8) goes up for a basket between Oklahoma City Thunder defenders during the first half at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) drives as Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed (7) defends during the first half at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Detroit Pistons guard Caris LeVert (8) drives around Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso (9) during the first half at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Detroit Pistons guard Kevin Huerter (27) drives down the court past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) during the first half at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Detroit Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins (24) reaches for a loose ball as he falls back during the first half against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (22) defends during the first half at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed (7) shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) defends during the first half at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) and Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) fight for a loose ball during the first half at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Ajay Mitchell (25) and Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) fight for a loose ball during the first half at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

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East-leading Detroit Pistons visit West-best Oklahoma City Thunder

Detroit Pistons guard Marcus Sasser (25) passes against the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Monday, March 30, 2026.

April 12: at Indiana Pacers

Prediction: Pistons win, 119-107.

Similar to the Bucks, the Pacers – last season’s Eastern Conference champions – will be jostling for draft lottery position. Even with most of their core players potentially sidelined, the Pistons’ depth will carry them against an Indiana team with little incentive to win.

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Final Eastern Conference standings prediction

Cleveland Cavaliers (53-29)

Philadelphia 76ers (45-37)

Charlotte Hornets (43-39)

This is shaping up to be the third-best Pistons season in franchise history, tying the 59-win 2007-08 team that was the last to make an Eastern Conference Finals. They have been the deepest, most identity-driven team in the league outside of the Thunder and San Antonio Spurs, the lone teams on pace for 60-plus wins this season.

Watch our podcast, “The Pistons Pulse,” discuss the Cade Cunningham injury fallout, the playoff chase and more:

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.

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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons record prediction, picks for final six games