Detroit Pistons: Top five moments from the Stan Van Gundy era

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AUBURN HILLS, MI – APRIL 22: Tobias Harris #34 of the Detroit Pistons introduced before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2016 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

April 22, 2016: First home-playoff game in seven years

Here is the only moment on this list where the Pistons actually lost the game. But it was special nonetheless, given the larger context.

Game 3 of the 2016 Eastern Conference First Round series between the Detroit Pistons and Cleveland Cavaliers was the first playoff game at The Palace in seven years. It was also the second-to-last playoff game in Auburn Hills, the final being Game 4 just a few days later.

For a franchise that had been irrelevant for the first-half of the decade, the 2016 playoffs were a legitimate step forward. This marked the high point of the Stan Van Gundy era.

Detroit trailed 0-2 in the series entering Game 3. Like Game 1, this battle went down-to-the-wire. All five Pistons’ starters finished in double figures. Caldwell-Pope led Detroit with 18 points, including this emphatic jam late in transition.

But it wasn’t enough.

Kyrie Irving‘s 3-pointer with 43 seconds remaining gave the Cavaliers a 98-90 lead. That proved to be the dagger, and Cleveland walked away with a 101-91 victory.

Game 4 would end in similar fashion, with Irving once again providing the heroics. His corner three with an identical 43 seconds to play put Cleveland in front 100-96.

Reggie Jackson made a lay-up 10 seconds later to bring Detroit to within two. He subsequently attempted a game-winning 3-pointer with one second remaining, but it didn’t fall.

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