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It has been a long time since we’ve seen a different brand of Playoffs in Detroit, and many fans in Michigan would be surprised to see that their team is even in the postseason chase. But with the Detroit Pistons scoring a much-needed win over the New York Knicks in Game 2 of the First Round, it seems that there’s going to be a lot of hype for the team moving forward. Detroit has not been in the playoffs since 2019 – nor have they won a playoff game since Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics in 2008. This series of unfortunate runs by the Pistons have gone on for years. All of that finally met an end after stealing a 100-94 win over the Knicks, and the homecourt advantage in the playoff series at that. For the first time since 2008, the Pistons have won a playoff game, ending a 15-game streak of consecutive losses in the postseason. Now the tide shifts to the Pistons, and while the odds may be stacked against them, one can say that Detroit has also found its groove and may well be on its way to getting a big run in the next two games in front of their home crowd. Beating New York Cade Cunningham stole the show in his duel with Jalen Brunson after he finished with 33 points and 12 rebounds, leading the way for the Pistons in coming up with a crucial win on the road and putting up one of its best games yet. Detroit led for most of the game, but a Knicks run – similar to that 21-0 run in the fourth quarter of Game 1 – tied the score at 94 before Detroit played its final baskets well and kept the Knicks from scoring again. Learning from their collapse in Game 1, the Pistons made the big plays at the right time and ensured that they were not going to give up the biggest chance that they’ve had to win a single game. So far, it has been the story for Detroit this season – beating the odds, overcoming struggles, and proving critics wrong about their chances at being a contender in the NBA. With the series tied at 1-1, the Pistons are looking good enough to make the most of their games at home in Game 3. Of course, they’ll have to be prepared for the Knicks’ response, especially when they held OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Karl-Anthony Towns to just 10 points apiece in their Game 2 win. Big Pieces Coming Up The Pistons had a promising and talented roster heading into this season, and Tobias Harris was one of the biggest signings who proved to be pivotal in their games. The former Sixers forward scored 15 points and 13 rebounds and was a great boost in Detroit’s win. Jalen Duren also played well in the paint and hounded the Knicks' offense as he finished with 12 points, 13 boards, and three blocks. However, the biggest boost that the team had for this Game 2 win was Dennis Schroder – who wasn’t even a Piston until February as he was traded from one team to another. The 2023 FIBA World Cup MVP scored 20 points off the bench and even drilled the game-clinching three with 55 seconds left to play in the game. At the right time, it seems that Detroit is clicking well. One can say that Michigan fans will have a lot to expect moving forward as they seek to deliver impressive performances and take control of the series now more than ever.

Kalshi is at it again: just when we thought things were finally settling down, Kalshi goes to court again and files a suit against Maryland for its cease and desist order, the same way that Kalshi fought against New Jersey and Nevada. Kalshi, the federally regulated prediction market platform, has filed a lawsuit in Maryland federal court seeking to block the state from enforcing a cease-and-desist order that it claims unlawfully targets its event contracts. The legal action, filed late Monday, comes just ahead of a compliance deadline set by Maryland authorities for April 22, and mirrors Kalshi's recent legal victories in Nevada and ongoing litigation in New Jersey. Kalshi suit against Maryland C&D letters Maryland's April 7 cease-and-desist letters, issued to Kalshi alongside other firms like Robinhood and Crypto.com, accuse the companies of offering what the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Commission describes as unlicensed sports wagering. According to the commission, these companies operate sports event prediction markets that are "indistinguishable from sports betting," thus violating state law which limits sports wagering to licensed operators. Kalshi's complaint argues that Maryland's enforcement efforts are federally preempted. Specifically, the company contends that Maryland is intruding upon the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's exclusive jurisdiction to regulate futures derivatives trading under the Commodity Exchange Act. Kalshi, a designated contract market, operates under the CFTC's oversight, which, according to the lawsuit, provides it with protection from conflicting state regulations. Protection and regulation from the CFTC "This action challenges the State of Maryland's intrusion into the federal government's 'exclusive' authority," the lawsuit states, citing legal precedent and statutory authority. Kalshi is seeking both preliminary and permanent injunctions to stop Maryland from enforcing the cease-and-desist and to declare the state's actions invalid under the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution. Kalshi's legal team points to a recent favorable ruling from the US District Court for the District of Nevada, which granted the company a preliminary injunction against a similar state action. In that case, the court ruled that Kalshi's operations fall under federal jurisdiction and that the state's attempt to regulate them created a conflict with federal law. No prohibition of event contracts under federal law In its Maryland filing, Kalshi again highlights that the CFTC has not prohibited its sports-event contracts. "Unless and until the CFTC takes action on Kalshi's sports-event contracts, they remain authorized under federal law," the company states in its complaint. Interestingly, Kalshi's legal arguments avoid direct mention of sports events when highlighting the utility of event contracts, instead citing hypothetical examples like whether an earthquake will occur in Los Angeles County by the end of 2025. Kalshi has been represented by Milbank LLP, with Neal Katyal, former Acting Solicitor General of the US, among the attorneys listed. The firm's involvement demonstrates the high stakes and potential precedent-setting nature of the case. A somewhat heated exchange Email exchanges submitted with the lawsuit reveal a last-minute attempt by Kalshi to negotiate with Maryland regulators. On April 18, Kalshi's legal counsel reached out to the MLGCC to discuss the implications of the Nevada ruling. However, the state did not respond substantively until the day before the compliance deadline. In one of the final emails entered into evidence, Kalshi's attorneys urged Maryland officials to preserve the status quo to avoid emergency litigation. "Your agreement to preserve the status quo would avoid any need to burden a Maryland court with emergency litigation," wrote Andrew Cook, a partner at Orrick. Maryland's response was blunt. "Please note that we will take appropriate actions based on your response," wrote Michael Eaton, the managing director of the MLGCA. With legal battles unfolding in multiple states, Kalshi's lawsuits are quickly shaping up to be a defining moment for the future of prediction markets and their regulatory classification. As states expand sports betting frameworks, the question of whether federally regulated event contracts fall under the same umbrella remains controversial - and unresolved.