They had to defeat the lowly Detroit Pistons to avoid the possibility of starting the playoffs on the road in Toronto.

Indiana brought its record to 38-43 and took over the seventh playoff spot tonight by defeating the Detroit Pistons, 103-98.

The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Detroit Pistons, 92-88.

This came as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Detroit Pistons 107-101.

Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons, moving into a first-place tie with the Knicks with one game left in the season.

Those proved to be key factors last night as the Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons, 100-93, at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks overcame an 18-point deficit Saturday to defeat the Detroit Pistons.

The Celtics defeated the Detroit Pistons in six games of the Eastern Conference Finals, winning two road games.

That year the Spurs won the NBA championship by defeating the Detroit Pistons in seven games.

Winning a game they badly needed for their confidence, the Knicks (36-39) defeated the Detroit Pistons, 101-88, before 17,427 at Madison Square Garden.