Inspired by other community mods’ initiative AND compelled by little community engagement, I’ll be setting up a monthly thread for Pistons post-game recaps starting with the November 17 game vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers
Older games recap (all losses):
2023-11-20
Not even Nikola Jokic eject helps Detroit Pistons, who lose 12th straight, at home to Denver
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press
With less than two minutes remaining, the Detroit Pistons had a shot at breaking their streak.
Cade Cunningham hit a tough layup to tie the game, that was back-and-forth all night, at 103.
But the Denver Nuggets struck last. Aaron Gordon completed a 3-point play, and the Pistons' next three possessions came up empty. Former Piston Reggie Jackson iced the game with a free throw, handing the Pistons (2-13) to their 12th straight loss, 107-103, on Monday at Little Caesars Arena.
The Pistons were helped by two early ejections. Nuggets coach Michael Malone was tossed with 1:21 remaining in the first quarter after arguing a call with an official. Then two-time MVP Nikola Jokic joined his head coach in the second, picking up his second tech after arguing a call with 1:22 to play before halftime.
Jokic finished the night with nine points, five rebounds and five assists in 15 minutes.
But even without the superstar and reigning Coach of the Year, the Nuggets put up a fight. There were seven ties and six lead changes in the fourth quarter. The Pistons led by five early in the fourth, but a Michael Porter Jr. 3-pointer gave Denver the lead, 92-91, with 6:57 remaining.
The Pistons were hurt by turnovers, coughing it up 12 times in the second half after committing just five before halftime.
Cunningham led the Pistons with 27 points and nine assists, and Jaden Ivey, who remained in the starting lineup, added 17. Isaiah Stewart also had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
Isaiah Livers makes his season debut
It was a long-awaited return for Isaiah Livers, who suffered a Grade III left ankle sprain right before training camp opened in early October. Pistons coach Monty Williams had praised his defense and shooting on media day, and his absence left a hole in the rotation at power forward, which the team struggled to fill before signing Kevin Knox two weeks ago.
“He’s a two-way guy, smart,” Williams said on Oct. 4. “He can play with the ball better than I thought, watching him play pickup before we started training camp. He can make a pocket pass, he knows how to play in 0.5. He does a number of things well and he’s smart. Talks on defense. It’s unfortunate that he had an injury, because he was having a great summer. He’s been working on his body. We can’t wait to get him back because he’s gonna add some value to both sides of the ball.”
Livers was a full participant in the team’s practice last Thursday, and his injury status was upgraded to “questionable” ahead of Sunday's game in Toronto. He waited an additional day to make his season debut, though, checking in at the 3:21 mark of the first. He got his first bucket on the ensuing offensive possession, knocking down a midrange jumper to give Detroit the lead, 17-16.
Knox did not play for the first time since his Pistons re-debut against the Chicago Bulls last week. It appears Livers, for now, is the team’s preferred option at backup power forward. Despite being on a minutes restriction, Livers played the final 6:39 of the game and played 23 minutes in total.
Ivey shines in second start
In his first start on Sunday, Ivey came out cold with a nine-point, 3-for-10 shooting performance. In fairness to him, it was a rough night for the entire team during the 29-point loss.
The second-year guard bounced back and then some on Monday, making seven of his first eight shots to tally 15 points through the first three quarters. It was one of his better performances of the season, as the Nuggets struggled to contain his drives.
His gravity appeared to make Cunningham’s life a little easier, and he hit his first bucket of the night — a 3-pointer — midway through the second quarter off of a drive-and-kick from Ivey.
Next up: Pacers
Matchup: Pistons (2-13) at Indiana (7-5), NBA In-Season Tournament game.
Tipoff: 8 p.m. Monday; Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis.
TV/radio: Bally Sports Detroit; WXYT-FM (97.1).
At least this game was close. Didn't get a chance to watch, but glad Ivey is still starting and it seems he played well.
2023-11-29
Detroit Pistons set franchise record with 15th straight loss in home flop against L.A. Lakers
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Pistons made history on Wednesday, but not for reasons anyone wanted — or expected — this season.
They lost their 15th game in a row in an 133-107 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers at Little Caesars Arena, setting a new franchise record for an in-season losing streak. The Pistons had previously lost 14 straight three times, in 1979-80, 1993-94 and 2021-22. Those teams finished 16-66, 20-62 and 23-59 overall, respectively. The franchise record for consecutive losses in multiple seasons is 21 games, set when the 1980-81 squad lose seven straight to open that season.
The Pistons have now suffered their four worst defeats this season in their last five games, as they fell to the Toronto Raptors by 29 on Nov. 19, the Indiana Pacers by 23 last Saturday, and the Wizards by 23 on Monday. Their previous worst loss was a 14-point defeat to the Phoenix Suns that was competitive until the fourth quarter.
The schedule won't ease anytime soon, as they will fly to New York for a Thursday game against the Knicks (10-7) before returning home to host the 10-8 Cavaliers on Saturday. The Pistons (2-16 overall) have won just four games since Feb. 10, against 39 losses.
Nearly eight months after Troy Weaver penned a letter to fans after a 17-win season, the Pistons are on pace to win even fewer this season. Monty Williams went deep into his bench in search of a spark, as all 13 active players saw the floor. But the Lakers led by 31 by the time Kevin Knox, the last player to check in, entered midway through the fourth quarter.
LeBron James and Anthony Davis were both healthy and in the starting lineup for the Lakers, but D’Angelo Russell led the way for L.A. The point guard made all six of his shot attempts in the first quarter and scored 18 of his 35 points in the first half, on 8-for-10 shooting. He finished the night 13-for-17 overall and 5-for-7 from 3, with nine assists.
Russell's performance spurred an all-around hot start for the Lakers, as they hit 11 of their first 14 shot attempts and finished the first quarter 13-for-21. A 3-pointer by Russell with 4:28 on the clock extended their lead to 28-14, and the deficit grew to 19 before the end of the quarter.
It was a poor defensive start for the Pistons, as they committed seven personal fouls in the first quarter to give the Lakers an early 11-1 edge in free-throw attempts. Detroit entered halftime shooting 35.8% overall (19-for-53) and 35% from 3 (7-for-20). Jalen Duren was limited due to foul trouble, picking up his third with 4:18 remaining in the second quarter.
Russell stayed hot after halftime, and his 3-point play pushed the Lakers’ lead to 68-48. James (25 points, eight rebounds) and Davis (28 points, 16 rebounds) had big performances as well.
The Pistons were led by Cade Cunningham (15 points, five assists, 6-for-15 shooting) and Isaiah Livers (14 points). Ausar Thompson and Isaiah Stewart were the only other players to reach double figures, with 12 points apiece.
Poor shooting hurts Pistons, again
For the second game in a row, the Pistons struggled to score. Two days after shooting a season-low 42.2% overall and 21.1% from 3, Detroit hit a new low with an overall 41.2% clip.
Cunningham, who scored at least 25 in his previous three games, shot just 3-for-11 in the first half. Ivey also struggled, missing all four of his shot attempts. Detroit’s most consistent source of offense was Livers, who hit a season-high four 3-pointers.
Burks remains cold after strong start to season
For four games, Alec Burks looked like the 1B to Cunningham’s 1A. The veteran sharpshooter erupted for 24 points off of the bench to help the Pistons earn their first victory of the season, 111-99, in Charlotte. He followed that with 18 points in a 16-point blowout over the Chicago Bulls.
A forearm injury then cost him six games. He hasn’t been the same player since returning, despite posting 16 points in each of his first two games back. In his last seven, he’s shooting 31.1% overall and 28.2% from 3 — a long ways off from the 43.6%/41.4% splits he posted last season.
He missed his first five shots on Wednesday before knocking down a 3-pointer with 7:30 remaining in the game.
2023-11-17
[Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press] Despite lineup shuffle, Detroit Pistons' skid hits 10 with 108-100 loss to Cleveland
CLEVELAND — Call it an imperfect 10.
The Detroit Pistons' losing streak reached double digits Friday night with a 108-100 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who closed the first quarter with a 19-4 run and led by double digits early in the second quarter thanks to hot shooting and Detroit's ongoing issues with taking care of the ball.
The Pistons (2-11) committed 17 turnovers — their 13th time in 13 games with at least 16 giveaways. They were also doomed by poor shooting, finishing the night just 9-for-35 on 3-pointers. Cleveland shot 55.6% overall and hit six of 14 3s in the first half, overcoming a 26-16 rebounding deficit.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 20 points, eight assists and five rebounds. Kevin Knox, who replaced Marvin Bagley III in the starting lineup, tallied a double-double (11 points and 11 rebounds), as did Isaiah Stewart (11 points, 10 rebounds).
Rookie Ausar Thompson finished with nine points and 10 rebounds, but turned the ball over five times. He played just 1:30 in the second half. Jaden Ivey scored 11 points, but finished with six turnovers.
The Cavs were without All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, but Darius Garland stepped up with 28 points in his absence.
Cleveland guard Craig Porter Jr., who's on a two-way contract, hit a midrange jumper with just under 10 minutes before the half to extend Cleveland's lead to 12, 42-30. At that point, the Cavs had knocked down 17 of their first 23 shots. Their lead reached a game-high of 16, 57-41, with 1:18 left in the second when a bad lob from Thompson to Knox led to an open dunk for Jarrett Allen on the other end.
Detroit rallied in the third after finding its touch from outside, cutting the deficit to four with a layup from Knox at the 3:48 mark. It capped a 24-14 run for the Pistons, who trailed by double digits once again early in the fourth after turning the ball over on consecutive possessions, slowing their third-quarter momentum.
New starting five doesn't pay off
First-year head coach Monty Williams hinted Thursday that a lineup change would be imminent. Many issues have plagued the Pistons during their losing streak, but there are two that are most prominent: They’ve turned the ball over at one of the NBA’s highest rates, and the starting lineup has had cramped spacing.
"I have to do a better job of allowing (Cunningham) to play in more space," Williams said. "Think I gotta change up the combinations with him on the floor so the paint isn’t as crowded. I think that’s going to free him up to see a lot more clearly, if you will."
He attempted to address both problems by inserting Knox, who has been with the team for just over a week. Knox earned the coaching staff’s trust after a strong debut against the Chicago Bulls on Sunday, when he knocked down all four of his 3-pointers and hustled on defense.
It didn’t pay off against Cleveland, though. The Pistons missed their first six 3s before Cunningham finally got one to fall midway through the first. They made just one more before halftime, finishing the second period 2-for-12 from downtown. Many of their attempts were open — they just couldn’t hit.
Detroit also struggled with turnovers, tallying 13 during the first half. It was the usual mix of misplaced and telegraphed passes and loose handles being picked off. Three players — Thompson (5), Cunningham (4) and Ivey (3) — were responsible for the majority, and the Cavaliers scored 18 points off them.
The Pistons weren't nearly as bad in the third quarter, cutting a 14-point halftime deficit to seven at the end of the period. They hit six of their first 10 3-pointers, cutting the lead to six at the 4:35 mark. But more importantly, they didn’t turn the ball over once in the period.
They couldn't sustain it, though, missing six of their seven attempts from beyond the arc in the fourth as the Cavaliers pulled away. A dunk by Evan Mobley pushed Cleveland's lead to 16 once again with 1:37 to play, after which Williams subbed out Cunningham, Stewart and Alec Burks for the rest of the night.
2023-11-19
Detroit Pistons lose 11th straight after 142-113 debacle at Toronto Raptors
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press
TORONTO — The Detroit Pistons appeared to find a rhythm Sunday after a slow start. They scored seven straight points to cut the Toronto Raptors lead to two points. The two teams exchanged blows for most of the rest of the opening period.
But with just over two minutes to go and the bench players on the floor for the Pistons' starters, the Raptors started a run that clinched the game with significant time remaining before halftime. The Pistons went scoreless from the 2:22 mark of the first quarter until the 11:03 mark of the second.
In those 3 minutes and 19 seconds, Toronto scored 14 unanswered points to grab a 16-point edge and continued to pummel the Pistons to an ugly 142-113 defeat at Scotiabank Arena — their 11th loss in a row. The Pistons trailed by as many as 26 points before halftime, and as many as 40 in the second half in falling to an NBA-worst 2-12.
It has been a particularly brutal stretch of basketball for the Pistons this calendar year: They now have a third 11-game losing streak since Feb. 10, as the team dropped 23 of its final 25 games to close the 2022-23 season. The Pistons are 4-35 since Feb. 10.
There has been plenty of frustration for the Pistons during their extended slide, but Sunday’s loss had a different energy. Detroit has been more competitive than its NBA-worst record would indicate, but the team had no fight remaining after the Raptors’ second punch late in the first quarter.
The injury report grew before the game, as Killian Hayes (left shoulder sprain) missed his first contest of the season. He joined Jalen Duren, Bojan Bogdanovic, Monte Morris, Joe Harris and Isaiah Livers on the “out” list, giving the team a starting five and sixth man in street clothes on the bench. Livers, who has been nursing a Grade-III ankle sprain, was upgraded to “questionable” before the game for the first time this season.
Jaden Ivey drew his first start of the season in place of Hayes, but couldn’t get it going and finished with nine points and four assists on 3-for-10 shooting. Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 18 points, five rebounds and four assists, and two-way wing Stanley Umude added 19 points off the bench.
Seven players reached double-figures for Toronto, led by Pascal Siakam's 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Poor first half dooms Pistons
At halftime, Cunningham had 15 points on 6-for-13 shooting. His teammates combined for 30 points — on 38.6% (17-for-44) shooting. It was a one-man show for the Pistons on offense as the Raptors made easy work of their defense, taking advantage of poor rim protection and transition defense to shoot 53.8% through the first two periods.
A midrange jumper by Marcus Sasser brought the Pistons within 22-20 at the 2:22 mark of the first. But the team lost its verve after a pair of sloppy turnovers: An inbounds pass from Alec Burks nearly sailed above Marvin Bagley III’s head near midcourt, and he committed a backcourt violation by recovering the ball. And Precious Achiuwa got an open dunk after a badly placed pass by Umude, extending Toronto’s lead to 32-20 with 35 seconds to go.
The Pistons opened the second quarter with another befuddling turnover, as an inbounds pass somehow sailed out of bounds. They finished with 17 turnovers — their 14th time in 14 games with at least 16. NBA teams average 14.5 per game this season.
Lineup change wasn’t the answer
Even if Hayes were healthy Sunday, there’s a chance Ivey still would’ve made his debut as a starter. coach Monty Williams noted before the game Hayes and Cade Cunningham haven’t meshed as well as hoped. Hayes’ strengths as a playmaker are better utilized with the bench unit, he said.
“He’s been a guy that’s set the table for us a number of times,” Williams said of what the starting lineup loses without Hayes. “He and Cade have played off of each other a little bit. Not as much as I thought they would. I think to a degree, I probably had Killian in a tougher spot when he doesn’t have the ball and Cade has it because he can’t facilitate a bit more. It’s interesting how things work out.
“I was thinking about moving him to the second unit, not as a demotion but so he can set the table for (Alec Burks) and (Marcus Sasser) in the second unit. We’ll see how it goes today.”
The starting lineup produced no positive changes Sunday — it was Detroit’s least-competitive game of the season. It’s not on Ivey or any particular player.
The Pistons may have to search for deeper answers as their first season under Williams spirals fewer than 15 games in.
2023-11-30
Detroit Pistons rally, but lose 16th straight after falling against New York Knicks
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press
With a win within reach for the first time in more than a week, the Detroit Pistons went cold at an inconvenient time.
Trailing by six with just under three minutes to go, they missed a trio of 3-pointers — two by Isaiah Livers, and one by Isaiah Stewart — and didn’t score their next field goal until 42 seconds remained. In that stretch, they were outscored by the New York Knicks, 9-3, and felt short.
The Knicks defeated the Pistons, 118-112, at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. It's their 16th-straight loss, adding to their misfortune after setting a franchise-record with their 15th in a 133-107 smackdown by the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.
Detroit overcame a 16-point deficit early in the second quarter and took the lead over New York, 74-72, with 4:38 to play before halftime. It was their first lead since the 6:23 mark of the first. Despite shooting 53.1% overall as a team, Detroit was hurt by 20 turnovers and 25 personal fouls that gave the Knicks a 28-17 advantage at the free-throw line.
The Pistons got big scoring nights from Cade Cunningham (31 points, eight assists, 12-for-20 overall shooting), Killian Hayes (21 points, 10-for-13 shooting) and Marcus Sasser (17 points, 5-for-7 from 3). But they were outdone by Jalen Brunson, who erupted for 42 points and eight assists, shooting 13-for-24 overall. Julius Randle added 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Cunningham thrives off ball
Four of Cunningham’s seven first-half buckets were assisted. He got on the board midway through the first thanks to a pair of dimes from Hayes. He whipped a baseline pass from the top of the key to Cunningham in the corner for an open 3, and hit Cunningham against for a layup as he cut baseline.
In the second, Isaiah Livers grabbed a Cunningham missed 3 and sent the ball right back to him, and Cunningham splashed the shot. His third and fourth 3-pointers capped a 20-7 run to close out the first half that tied the game at 54. He received a pass in the corner from Sasser — who had a hot second quarter of his own — and hit it. Cunningham took matters into his own hands for the final points of the half, knocking down a stepback 3.
Rather than fight through crowds, Cunningham got into an early rhythm by cutting and knocking down open catch-and-shoot attempts. He still committed four turnovers in that span, but his off-ball gravity opened things up for his teammates. Eight of his 11 first-half attempts were 3-pointers. Detroit shot 14-for-23 (60.9%) and outscored the Knicks, 37-24, in the second quarter, while holding them to 38.1% shooting.
Hayes, Sasser give Pistons offensive lift
Both Hayes and Sasser struggled to score the ball leading up to Thursday. Hayes shot 35% overall and 16.7% from 3 in his previous seven games, and Sasser cooled off significantly after scoring a career-high 26 points against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 8. In his following nine games, he slumped to 32.7% overall and 20% from 3.
The two guards, alongside Cunningham, were the biggest factors in the Pistons erasing a 16-point deficit early in the second quarter. Hayes finished a pair of layups through contact — one leading to a 3-point play — to extend an 8-0 Pistons run that cut New York’s lead in half.
Sasser checked in midway through the second with the Pistons trailing by 13, and almost immediately caught fire. The rookie guard hit four 3-pointers in the final five minutes of the half, including a deep stepback, heat check that cut the deficit to four. He then assisted the first of two Cunningham 3-pointers that tied the game at 54.
Hayes stayed hot in the fourth, swishing a 3-pointer with 4:59 remaining to cut the deficit to 106-103. But Detroit went cold from there, giving up a 9-0 run that allowed the Knicks to clinch the win.
New starting lineup
Williams hinted that there would be changes to Detroit’s starting lineup following their 26-point blowout to the Lakers. Like many teams have this season, the Lakers packed the paint and made life tough for Cunningham and Ivey. Williams acknowledged that the two guards need better spacing.
“The spacing on the floor isn’t great for those guys, and when they take that pick and roll alley away to the basket, guys on the backside gotta knock down the shots,” Williams said. “That’s just NBA basketball. Any time the paint is crowded, it’s going to be pretty tough for Cade and Jaden to be efficient. We have to figure out spacing, and get guys in there that can knock down shots.”
The Pistons rolled with a new first unit, swapping Ivey and Ausar Thompson for Livers and Hayes. They played their most competitive game since Hayes was last a starter on Nov. 17 against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and hit shot-making helped the team stay afloat in a back-and-forth game.
Next up: Cavaliers
Matchup: Pistons (2-17) vs. Cleveland (10-8).
Tipoff: 7 p.m. Saturday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.
TV/radio: Bally Sports Detroit Extra; WWJ-AM (950).
2023-11-25
Detroit Pistons drop 13th straight, 136-113, to Pacers after 4Q collapse
Phillip B. Wilson, The Associated Press (via Detroit Free Press)
INDIANAPOLIS — Tyrese Haliburton had 26 points and 10 assists, Myles Turner scored 10 of his 23 points in the final quarter for Indiana, and the Detroit Pistons, after opening the season 2-1, fell to their 13th consecutive defeat with a 136-113 loss Friday night.
The Pacers, 4-0 in East Group A play, will host the next tournament opponent on Dec. 4 or 5.
“That’s enormous for our team, for the organization, for ownership, for fans,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “That’s going to be another opportunity for us. … I’m real proud of the guys and the effort that they’ve put into this.”
Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham led all scorers with 31 and Jaden Ivey had 25.
“We have to learn the formula: when we take care of the ball, we give ourselves a chance,” Pistons coach Monty Williams said. “When we give it away, like we did in the fourth quarter, it’s hard.”
The Pistons made six of their 14 turnovers in the fourth quarter.
Turner overcame first-half foul trouble to finish strong, which included 10 rebounds and five blocks.
“I was mad, just sitting out,” he said. “Once I got out there, I just told myself, ‘Go. Put your head down and work.’ ”
The Pistons led by one point in the first minute of the final quarter, but were outscored 39-17 in the fourth.
“We’re the highest-scoring team on the planet,” Carlisle said of the NBA’s No. 1 offense. “Teams are loading up, trying to figure out ways to slow us down.”
Despite playing with a sprained right wrist, Haliburton boosted a 9-of-23 shooting effort with five 3-pointers. Seven Pacers players scored at least 15 points.
Buddy Hield had 18 to continue his hot streak. In the last three games since being inserted into the lineup, he’s scored 73 points and hit 16 of 25 3s. Obi Toppin and Bennedict Mathurin each scored 15.
Carlisle, who coached the Pistons for two seasons, tied Frank Vogel for second on the franchise win list with his 250th victory. Bobby “Slick” Leonard is No. 1 at 529.
Next up: Wizards
Matchup: Pistons (2-14) vs. Washington (2-13).
Tipoff: 7 p.m. Monday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.
TV/radio: Bally Sports Detroit; WXYT-FM (97.1).
2023-11-27
Detroit Pistons tie franchise mark with 14th straight loss in blowout to Wizards, booed off floor
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press
The stakes were high, but not because a handsome prize awaited at the finish line.
Rather, it was a battle between two teams looking to prove that they weren’t the worst.
The Detroit Pistons and Washington Wizards entered Monday night tied with the NBA’s worst record (2-14). The Pistons, at home and riding a 13-game losing streak, perhaps had a bit more to play for.
It ended up not being much of a battle. After trailing by three at halftime, the Pistons collapsed in the second half and fell to the Wizards, 126-107, at Little Caesars Arena. The 14-game losing streak ties their longest in franchise history, as the team previously accomplished the feat in 1980 and 1994.
The 1979-80 season began with Dick Vitale as head coach, though he was fired after 12 games. Richie Adubato was the interim when the team ended the season with a 14-game skid. The Pistons traded its two first-round picks the summer before to Boston as a part of the Bob McAdoo deal.
In 1993-94, the final season for Bill Laimbeer and Isiah Thomas, the team lost 14 straight in December and January. Detroit drafted Grant Hill third overall the next summer.
On Monday night, the Pistons struggled with the two things that have cost them the most during their losing streak — turnovers, and excessive fouling. They committed 17 turnovers, their 12th game this season with at least that many, and 22 personal fouls to give the Wizards a 28-19 advantage in free-throw attempts.
They were also crushed by their lack of outside shooting, finishing a season-worst 8-for-38 (21.1%) from the 3-point line. Their previous low was 7-for-29 (24.1%) against the Milwaukee Bucks on Nov. 8.
Flint native Kyle Kuzma turned a close game into a rout almost single-handedly. The tide turned against the Pistons for good in the third quarter, during which Kuzma scored 18 of his game-high 32 points, in addition to grabbing seven rebounds and dishing three assists. He finished with 12 rebounds and eight assists.
He went 7-for-11 during the stretch.
Alec Burks completed a three-point play with roughly 5 seconds remaining in the third to cut the deficit to 91-83. But Kuzma pushed the lead to double-digits for good, nailing a deep pull-up 3 with 1.1 seconds to go in the period.
Michigan alumnus Jordan Poole had a quieter night, finishing with 10 points on 3-for-9 shooting.
The Pistons were led by Cade Cunningham (26 points, seven rebounds and five assists) and Ausar Thompson (16 points). Jaden Ivey (15 points, seven assists, seven rebounds) and Jalen Duren (12 points, 14 rebounds) also reached double-figures.
Marvin Bagley III was a healthy scratch for the first time this season.
Worst shooting performance of season
Detroit missed five consecutive 3-pointers to open the fourth quarter before Cunningham hit Marcus Sasser with a pinpoint pass to break the spell. Before that 3, the Pistons were shooting 6-for-32 (22%) from deep.
Their previous offensive possession ended with a turnover that led to an open transition dunk, allowing the Wizards to increase the lead to 18, and allowing boos from the sparse, and frustrated, Little Caesars Arena crowd to rain down. More boos followed when the deficit reached 20 with fewer than 3 minutes left.
The Pistons’ coldest night from downtown came at the worst time. Their four best shooters in the lineup, Cunningham, Isaiah Livers, Isaiah Stewart and Alec Burks, went a combined 5-for-26 from long range. The clanks grew in number as the Wizards — and especially Kuzma — caught fire during the second half.
Despite their putrid shooting performance in the final two quarters, it was an improvement from the first half, in which they missed 13 of 16 3-pointers. But the Pistons' offense collapsed as a whole after halftime.
Ausar shines during bleak night
Thompson, the No. 5 overall pick last summer, went through a miniature slump last week. He failed to reach double-digits in the scoring after posting a career-high 21 against the Atlanta Hawks. But the Pistons are starting him because of everything else he can do. Though Monty Williams went away from his prized rookie late in two games.
The rookie played just 17 minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers, logging just a minute and 45 seconds in the second half after a mistake-laden first half. And he only played two minutes and 35 seconds in the fourth quarter during Detroit’s late-game collapse against the Indiana Pacers last Friday.
In a night there wasn’t much to cheer for, Thompson was the lone source of joy. He got going early, scoring six of Detroit’s first 12 points with a pair of dunks. His two biggest plays of the night were an acrobatic up-and-under layup, and a thunderous block on Poole late in the second quarter.
Next up: Lakers
Matchup:
Pistons (2-15) vs. L.A. Lakers (10-8).
Tipoff:
7 p.m. Wednesday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.
TV/radio:
Bally Sports Detroit; WWJ-AM (950).