The Detroit Pistons were significantly short-staffed for their cross-conference battle with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday night
Entering Monday night’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder with a battered and bruised cast of hoopers, the Detroit Pistons took the reigning champs to the absolute limit in a 114-110 loss in overtime.
Prior to tip-off, the Pistons announced that 80% of their typical starting lineup would be sidelined for the cross-conference contest as Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris and Duncan Robinson were all held out with various injuries. To make matters more severe, Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart was still nursing a left calf strain, so Detroit was without their top five leading scorers for an important game on national television.
Somehow, the Pistons were able to push through those obstacles and nearly had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation. Tied at 101 with the clock winding down, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hoisted up a triple that momentarily looked like it won the Thunder the game until the refs called an offensive foul on the play. So, Pistons guard Daniss Jenkins charged down court for one final look, but his game-winning three-pointer rattled off the rim to force overtime.
In the extra frame, SGA helped the Thunder pull away for a four-point win, and his 47 points were the driving force that kept OKC ahead for much of the contest.
“Our guys were unbelievable tonight,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said after the game. “To go out there and compete the way that they did, to overcome so much adversity and put themselves in position to make a play and against this team in this arena, I thought our guys were unbelievable tonight.”
On most nights without Cunningham in the lineup, the Pistons have defaulted to a Duren-led offensive attack, but Detroit had to pivot to a B-Ball Paul night instead. With an opportunity to start against the West’s top squad, Paul Reed logged 21 points and 10 rebounds during his extended run on the floor.
“Whenever his number is called, he’s been ready to help us and he helps us in so many different ways,” Bickerstaff said. “His effort is always outstanding, his willingness to do the dirty things is always outstanding. He is working and has become a better facilitator, we put the ball in his hands. We trust him to make the right decisions so that we can create more of that motion that we’re looking for, and he does a good job of making the reads from there.”
Though Ausar Thompson took the responsibility of guarding SGA upon himself for most of the night, AT fouled out of the game with roughly two minutes remaining. Thompson’s defensive absence was particularly felt during the extra frame, and Bickerstaff spoke about the play that knocked his defensive ace out of the matchup.
“[Laughs] You guys are trying to get me in trouble,” Bickerstaff said. “Listen, we played a hell of a game tonight, and I’m not going to let the officiating take away from what our guys did tonight. Our guys played a hell of a game, and they deserve a lot of credit for the way they went out and played, and that’s that.”
Kevin Huerter was thrust into the starting lineup as well, and Red Velvet acquitted himself quite favorably with a 17-point, 6-rebound, 6-assist performance against the defending NBA Champions. Javonte Green was also key in the Pistons’ comeback effort with 19 points with five triples to his credit.
Moving forward, the Pistons will have a quick turnaround with a game against the Toronto Raptors set for Tuesday, March 31 at 8 pm.
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