Picked to finish near the bottom of the standings in preseason rankings, the team has clinched a playoff spot behind a defense-first strategy and a breakout year from its young roster.
The turnaround began with a mid-season coaching adjustment that shifted the team's identity toward ball control and disciplined defense.
Veteran players credit the locker room culture for keeping morale high through an early-season losing streak.
The team now heads into the postseason as one of the league's most unpredictable matchups.
