Dennis Schröder

Becoming NBA history’s first-ever team to triple its previous season’s win total — lockout seasons notwithstanding — allowed the Detroit Pistons to walk with swagger, but for some, a lack of proven playoff experience made them a question mark. Fortunately for them, a veteran point guard with roughly 70 postseason games under his belt arose to answer the call during Game Two’s final minute. Calm and collected, even with déjà vu of Game One’s collapse appearing plausible, Dennis Schröder puts a screen-and-rescreen plan in motion against the New York Knicks’ switch-heavy defense, prompting the slightest miscommunication. Temporarily uncovered, and prepared to deliver a rebuttal to Madison Square Garden’s “DEFENSE” chants, Schröder elevates into a silencer, burying a cold-blooded, game-deciding trifecta to secure April 21, 2025’s victory. A thorn in New York’s side, particularly over the series’ outset, the 12-year journeyman enjoyed a memorable moment in the series-tying win, alongside 20 points (on 6-of-10 shooting), three assists, and three 3-pointers.