A year ago, the Pistons were in the middle of a historically bad season — one that included a 28-game losing streak and prompted team owner Tom Gores to publicly apologize for the direction of the franchise.

Fast forward to Thursday night, and that same franchise was on the brink of forcing a Game 7, inside a packed Little Caesars Arena buzzing with belief.

The Pistons fell short, losing 116-113 to the Knicks in Game 6, but this wasn’t about elimination — it was about arrival.

On Thursday night, Gores sat courtside at a sold-out Little Caesars Arena, one of 20,062 fans hoping to witness a different kind of Pistons moment. And while Detroit didn’t finish the job, Gores walked away with something new: belief.

“The overall feeling I have is gratitude to this team and the individual players,” Gores told reporters, via Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. “I expected them to do well, but not this well. It feels great. I am really proud of them. We are not done. They are not lucky. They are a good basketball team… We will not let up. I love the future of this team.”

The Knicks led 96-85 entering the final quarter, but Detroit’s defining trait all season — resiliency — came roaring back.

With 7:40 remaining, Jalen Duren (21 points, six rebounds) found Ausar Thompson for a two-handed dunk to cut the deficit to 103-96. Cade Cunningham followed with a steal and Duren added two free throws. Then, a Tim Hardaway Jr. three, a Thompson layup, and a midrange jumper by Cunningham capped a 13-0 run that gave Detroit a 105-103 lead with five minutes left.

Cunningham was spectacular, finishing with 23 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. The Pistons led 112-111 with one minute left, but Jalen Brunson, who had 40 points and six assists, and Mikal Bridges (25 points) took over late. Bridges tipped in a missed Brunson layup to tie the game at 113, then Brunson buried the go-ahead 3-pointer to complete an 11-1 run and close out the game — and the series.

“We came in (in the postgame locker room) and said look man, it sucks, but we had a hell of a year,” said Malik Beasley, who scored 20 points on six 3-pointers. “No one believed in us. Detroit vs. Everybody, literally. Even in the playoffs, we continued to play for each other and have each other’s backs, and we live with the results.”

It was the Pistons’ first playoff game in May in 17 years. It likely won’t be anywhere near that long before the next one.

“When I came into training camp, I knew the energy was different,” Beasley added. “Being able to come into the locker room with a group of guys that had that much energy and fun, that made it that much easier … that’s what brought us here.”

Detroit’s rise has been fueled by a mix of youth, coaching, and culture. J.B. Bickerstaff, in his first year as head coach, earned praise from players and Gores alike.

“I could not be more proud of these guys,” Bickerstaff said.

As for Gores’ praise of his leadership, Bickerstaff was his forever-humble self.

“This is what I’m supposed to do,” he said. “The job is about those guys in the locker room.”

This one hurts, sure. But when it comes to these Pistons, the story is just beginning.