Baynes stars as Pistons make playoffs

Australia's Aron Baynes proved he is worth every cent of his $US20 million ($A26.65 million) contract by guiding the Detroit Pistons into the NBA playoffs for the first time in seven years.

With the Pistons securing a place, the playoffs, which begin next week, will be loaded with teams featuring Australians.

Baynes was sensational in the fourth quarter of their crucial clash with the Washington Wizards on Friday.

The Wizards were targeting Pistons' All-Star centre Andre Drummond with deliberate fouls to send him to the free throw line and the strategy was working.

With nine minutes to go Drummond, who has struggled with free throws all season, missed two horribly, including an air ball on his second attempt.

Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy benched his star and sent Queensland big man Baynes in.

Baynes hit a hook shot and six free throws in the final minutes to guide the Pistons to a 112-99 victory on their home court and spark raucous celebrations in their locker room.

Drummond appeared to sulk on the bench in the fourth quarter, choosing not to join team huddles in time outs, however, he was full of praise for Baynes.

"Aron Baynes came out and closed the game out," Drummond said.

Pistons fans raised eyebrows about the team's decision to sign former San Antonio Spur Baynes to a three-year $US20 million contract in the off-season.

Van Gundy, however, described the Australian and his free throw shooting as "a better option" than Drummond in the final minutes of games.

Cameron Bairstow appears likely to be the only Australian not to make this year's playoffs, with his Chicago Bulls sitting in ninth place in the Eastern Conference.

Andrew Bogut (Golden State Warriors), Matthew Dellavedova (Cleveland Cavaliers) and Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs) have secured playoff spots along with Baynes, while Joe Ingles and his Utah Jazz are clinging to the eighth spot in the Western Conference.