Sunday’s season finale was a unique opportunity for Detroit Pistons guard Malik Beasley to notch two big accomplishments.

Simply playing placed Beasley on an exclusive NBA list, as he played all 82 games for the year. He also had a chance to maintain his lead as the league’s No. 1 three-point shooter. While Beasley was in first for a good portion of the day, he was later surpassed by Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards.

Still, the 82-game accomplishment is a big one. Beasley became one of 11 on Sunday.

via Bobby Marks, ESPN

Beasley accomplished 82 appearances for the first time in his career. During his third season, while with the Denver Nuggets, Beasley appeared in 81 games. A few years later, during the 2022-2023 season, Beasley played in 81 games total with two teams.

First, Beasley appeared in 55 games with the Utah Jazz. After getting traded to the Los Angeles Lakers, he appeared in 26 games.

Last year, Beasley competed in 79 games for the Milwaukee Bucks. After averaging 11 points on 41 percent shooting from three, he signed a deal with the Pistons in free agency. Beasley has been a major addition to the Pistons 2024-2025. Coming off of the bench for all but 18 of his appearances, Beasley averaged 16 points on 42 percent shooting from three.

When the Pistons fire up their playoff run this weekend, Beasley will have a key role for the team off the bench against the New York Knicks.

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Cade Cunningham envisions a tough battle in his Pistons playoff series against the Knicks.

“It’s going to be a war,” the Pistons star said Sunday on ESPN. “It’s going to be highly physical games — defense, battling it out on the glass, all of those different things.

“I think it’s going to be a super exciting series for people at home to watch, and it’s going to be a great test for us as far as first round, first series in a long time for the organization. So it’s exciting, and I think it’s going to be a great one for us.”

Cunningham, a first-time All-Star this season and strong candidate for All-NBA, torched the Knicks in four matchups this regular season, averaging 30.8 points with 8.3 assists while shooting over 56 percent.

“Throughout the whole year, just a really good player,” said Mikal Bridges, who was one of the main defenders on Cunningham this season.

“Just goes at his own pace, he’s calm at all times,” Bridges continued. “And I think this year, even the year before, but this year [especially], more playmaking … Making more reads. Getting other guys open, knowing he has the ball in his hands more, but still getting other guys going, knowing he has more opportunities.”

Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said he’s giving the Pistons and Cunningham, ‘the proper amount of respect.’”

“He’s had a terrific season. It’s not just [against] us, he’s done it against everybody. We understand that. … With great players you don’t guard them individually, you guard them collectively,” Thibodeau said. “So we have to understand what goes into that.”

By winning Sunday, the Knicks eclipsed last season’s mark by one victory and secured the franchise’s best record since 2013.

“I just said that to our team, you win 51 games, you’re the third seed, so you’ve earned the right to be in the playoffs,” Thibdoeau said. “You’re not in the play-in, so you have a week to prepare and get ready for the next challenge. It’s really a new season. The regular season puts you in position, gives you the opportunity, you want to finish with the highest seed possible and then you start all over.

“Everyone’s record is zero and zero. You’ve got to earn everything again. We have to understand what goes into it. In terms of preparation, we’re big believers in how we prepare. Now it’s time to get ready and study.”

Detroit City Football Club continued to pick up points on the road on Saturday.

Le Rouge (3-2-1) ralled for a 3-2 win against Phoenix Rising FC in Phoenix to record nine out of a possible 12 road points with a 2-0 loss to Louisville City the only time they’ve dropped points away from home.

Trailing 2-0 in the second half, DCFC scored three goals in four minutes. Darren Smith recorded back-to-back goals at the 87- and 89-minute marks and Jeciel Cedeno added the winner at 90 minutes.

Le Rouge, which outshot Phoenix 15-11 with an 8-3 edge in corner kicks, returns to Keyworth Stadium on Wednesday for third-round action of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Kickoff against USL League One side Westchester SC is set for 7 p.m.

League play continues at Keyworth Stadium on Saturday as DCFC takes on Eastern Conference rival Rhode Island FC at 4 p.m.