The Detroit Pistons have become the NBA’s best feel-good story of the season. They’ll reach the midway point of the season with a winning record, regardless of how they fare in a home game against Indiana on Thursday night.Detroit has won 10 of its last 12 games to push its record to 21-19. The Pistons were the league’s worst team last season, winning just 14 games.Their latest victory was one of their most impressive, defeating the Knicks in New York for the second time this season on Monday, 124-119. Detroit held a slim lead for much of the second half and clinched the victory on two Malik Beasley 3-pointers in the last 39 seconds.On both plays, the Knicks’ defense collapsed on Cade Cunningham, leading to a hockey-style assist. He passed the ball to Tim Hardaway Jr., who then forwarded the ball to an open Beasley.It was a prime example of the Pistons’ improved execution and poise during the hot streak.”To me, the most impressive thing is Cade trusted Tim, because they were trapping Cade,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He made the play to Tim, and then Tim trusted (Beasley). That’s the heartbeat of great teams and good teams. The trust to make the right play at the end of the game and not feel like you have to be the guy. Lesson learned for us. We keep putting those together and every night, we’re a hard out.”Even though the Knicks heavily guarded Cunningham, the All-Star candidate found ways to score. He finished with 36 points, the fourth time in the last six games he’s racked up at least 32 points.Indiana showed over the past two games that it can hold its own against the top team in the Eastern Conference. The Pacers ended the Cavaliers’ 12-game winning streak with a 108-93 victory in Cleveland on Sunday. In the rematch at Indianapolis, the Cavaliers got a measure of revenge with a 127-117 triumph on Tuesday. That snapped the Pacers’ six-game winning streak.However, the Pacers didn’t have star guard Tyrese Haliburton available. He was sidelined with what coach Rick Carlisle described as a mild groin strain.
