On a night when the Detroit Pistons didn’t have enough, they found just enough to escape with the win. They outlasted a surging Philadelphia 76ers 111-108 for their sixth consecutive victory. A turnaround 11-footer gave the Pistons a three-point lead with 17 seconds ensured the Sixers needed a 3-pointer to tie. The Pistons played suffocating defense on the other end, and Tyrese Maxey’s 25-foot off-balance prayer of a shot clanked off the rim as time expired.
The Pistons were led by Cade Cunningham, with 26 points and 11 assists. Seventeen of those points came in a critical third-quarter surge that saw the Pistons erase a 10-point halftime deficit and turn it into a back-and-forth, knockdown fight for the remainder of the game.
On a night the Pistons were missing Isaiah Stewart because of an ankle injury, Jalen Duren came up huge for Detroit. He scored 21 points and had 16 rebounds to go with two blocks in 37 minutes. Tobias Harris also missed the game, his fourth consecutive absence. Ron Holland filled in for Harris, and he struggled offensively but played hard-nosed defense all game.
Duncan Robinson has been a capable offensive threat, but he hasn’t exactly been selfish with his always-bright green light. Tonight, he knew his team was undermanned, and he obliged with a quicker trigger on his jump shot. Robinson finished with 17 points and hit four three-pointers in 29 minutes before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
The Pistons forced 19 turnovers and held the Sixers to 42% shooting from the floor. Philly was able to stay in the game and even go on a big run in the second quarter thanks to hitting 24 of their 28 free throws and putting the ball in the hands of Tyrese Maxey as much as possible.
Maxey had a game-high 33 points and had a number of critical baskets in the fourth quarter as the Sixers staged their comeback attempt.
Detroit struggled when Philly completely sold out on Cunningham, often sending two and three defenders his way. He was able to find Duren to attack the paint or keep the ball moving, but the lack of offensive threats was palpable throughout the game.
The Pistons were able to gut out the win because Duren is on a nuclear-level run, and players like Ausar Thompson (14 points and four assists) and Caris LeVert (14 points on 4-of-5 from three) managed to create just enough offense.
And the defense is legit. Watching the rash of Pistons’ defenders guard the perimeter in late-game situations is a thing to behold. Thompson, Holland, and Javonte Green are all moving their feet, taking smart angles, and communicating to ensure the ball handler never gets an easy path to the basket or a clean passing lane.
The late-game minutes when the ball is forced out of Cade’s hands are an adventure. The Pistons have Ausar Thomspon on the floor for his defense, and he is the go-to guy bringing the ball up the floor to spell Cade. But late in games, it is clear Detroit is a little more reluctant to put the ball in Ausar’s hands because the defense would gladly foul him and force him to earn points at the stripe. That means more dangerous passes to less capable players. Jaden Ivey can’t get back soon enough.
This team has a lot to figure out on offense, but it’s built on its defense. And that defense, and some Cade and Duren magic, have powered the Pistons to an 8-2 start and a first-place position in the Eastern Conference.
