On Sunday, the Detroit Pistons will look to defend their home court and even up their first-round series against the New York Knicks. Detroit almost roared back in Game 3 to win the first game at Little Caesars Arena, although the more experienced Knicks held on.

Defensive stopper Isaiah Stewart will miss his third game in a row with a nagging knee injury. The Pistons entered the game as 1.5-point underdogs.

Two NBA Hall of Famers and Pistons’ legends were in attendance for the game.

Mar 5, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff during the fourth quarter against the LA Clippers at Intuit Dome.

© Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

Since the Goin’ to Work era of Pistons basketball ended in the late 2000s, there hasn’t been much reason to celebrate the team. In Game 2, the Pistons earned their first postseason win since 2008, and, finally, the Pistons look like a team on the rise.

Chauncey Billups and Isiah Thomas were spotted at Game 4. Billups won Finals MVP in 2004, and Thomas won the honors in 1990. Both are in the Hall of Fame and have since had coaching stints in their post-playing careers. 

Billups is currently the coach of the Portland Trail Blazers and signed a contract extension to begin this offseason. Thomas has been the head coach of the Indiana Pacers and Florida International University Panthers, although he has not found the same penchant for coaching as Billups.

Both are considered two of the best players to ever don the Pistons’ jersey, and both of their numbers have long since been retired. Billups joined Thomas in the Hall of Fame in 2024, and both are waiting, however patiently, for the Pistons to once again be real contenders in the Eastern Conference. 

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