The Detroit Pistons received a generous compliments from the Pelicans’ head coach after the Wednesday night’s game
Leading into the Detroit Pistons road game against the Pelicans on Wednesday night, Cade Cunningham was ruled out of the contest due to an illness. So, the Pistons slid Daniss Jenkins into the starting role for the sixth time this season, and the second-year guard proved to be a reliable stop-gap once again with 17 points, four assists and a pair of triples in Detroit’s 112-104 victory over the Pelicans.
From a philosophical standpoint, the Pistons and Pelicans offenses have more than a few similarities given their focus on interior action and drives to the paint. Although Detroit finished with an eight-point win, New Orleans actually held the edge for points in the paint, 54-48.
But despite that misnomer, the Pistons were able to generally outwork the Pelicans and maintained a near-double digit lead all game long. Detroit outrebounded the Pelicans on their home court and accrued more stocks (steals plus blocks) in the matchup, and New Orleans head coach James Borrego highlighted the Pistons’ tough, hard-nosed nature after the game.
“I think we struggled with their physicality,” Borrego said. “We just didn't handle it very well offensively, so [we’ve] just got to go through it. They had their hands all over Murph and Fears and Queen. That's what they do to every team, though. You just got to go through it and figure it out. So, we'll get better from this, but they do it as well as anybody. And we're trying to replicate it ourselves. We're trying to look this way over time.”
At the moment, the Pelicans have a young squad, as do the Pistons, and they are replete with playmakers who can score on multiple levels. But one key component that Detroit is fortunate to have is the playmaking ability of All-Star starter Cade Cunningham, who missed the matchup due to an illness and a lingering wrist injury. Cunningham was ruled out of the contest in the hours leading up to tip-off, and he will have another day to rest up before the Pistons host the Houston Rockets for a 7 pm matchup on Amazon Prime.
But even without Cunningham, the Pistons followed a script that has led them to success 32 times this season. Duncan Robinson was able to offer a perimeter threat and knocked down four triples for the sixth consecutive game, and Jalen Duren dominated down low with a 20-point, 15-rebound double-double.
Duren, who was an efficient 7-for-11 from the field, posted another strong performance to help pad his case to make his first career All-Star Game in a few weeks. So far, Duren is averaging nearly 18 points and 11 rebounds on the year, so JD has put together an influential resume that may land him in Los Angeles for All-Star weekend alongside his point guard teammate.
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