Detroit Pistons: Bickerstaff Credits ‘Elite’ Defense For 2nd Half Swing

Playing on the tail end of a back-to-back, the Detroit Pistons were able to retain their position atop the Eastern Conference with a 97-89 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night in a game that tested both their depth and resiliency. 

Once again, the Pistons entered last night’s contest without the services of All-Star center Jalen Duren or sharp-shooter Isaiah Joe, so that meant an added dose of responsibility for Paul Reed and Daniss Jenkins. But like the trusty team-first players that they are, both Reed and Jenkins were pivotal in Detroit’s comeback win over the Hornets. 

At halftime, the Pistons trailed by a 51-44 margin, but the Motor City squad tightened up their ball security in the second half while simultaneously becoming more defensively stringent as well. After the break, Detroit produced a 17-to-2 assist-to-turnover ratio for a cleaner example of Pistons Basketball, and the Reed-Jenkins combo totaled 30 points between them when the final buzzer sounded. 

In a stylistic sense, the Pistons reverted back to their identity as a tenacious, physical squad after halftime, and that’s where head coach J.B. Bickerstaff saw the game take a different course. 

“We got familiar with ourselves again I think,” Bickerstaff said. “Defensively, obviously I thought we were elite that quarter, which translated to some easy opportunities for us on the offensive end. That’s where we get our mojo. We get out mojo when it is gritty, when it is nasty. That’s where our guys thrive.”

As for Cade Cunningham, the All-NBA First Team point guard posted a 30-piece himself as he shouldered more of the offensive load without Duren or Joe chipping in. Cunningham sank four triples in the eight-point win and finished with five rebounds, seven assists and two steals on Wednesday night. 

From a defensive standpoint, the Pistons held their opponents under 90 points, which is an impressive and rare feat in the modern NBA. Both Reed and Duncan Robinson logged at least three steals on the night, so Detroit’s relentless pressure played another big role in their fourth win of the 2026-27 regular season. 

”To be able to win ugly is something that we’ve been able to do, and tonight that’s what it took,” Bickerstaff said. 

While the Pistons leaned into their physical brand of basketball a bit more in the second half, the Hornets were more than up for the challenge. Moussa Diabate battled hard in the low post for nine rebounds, and Charlotte actually grabbed 12 more boards than Detroit did overall. But not to be outdone, Brandon Miller was the proverbial fulcrum for Charlotte last night with a 31-point, 12-rebound effort that underscores why he received such a lucrative contract during the offseason. 

When the Hornets needed a bucket, Miller was the first and second option that they turned to without Kon Knueppel in the lineup. Dennis Schroder had an efficient 14-point performance in a supporting role, but he was the only other Hornet to break double figures outside of Miller.