If the Knicks beat Detroit, the Bucks win against New Orleans, and the Pacers upset Cleveland (a likely second-round matchup for the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds, which are currently the Pacers and Bucks), Milwaukee will secure the fifth seed in the playoffs.

But, as Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo noted Thursday night, this is a much different Pistons team the Bucks are facing now. Detroit has gone 35-22 since that game in early December and has put together its first playoff season since 2018-19.