Detroit continues its historic 6-2 record after defeating the Jazz

The The Detroit Pistons are one of the hottest teams in the NBA after winning their fourth straight game, this time against the Utah Jazz in a 114-103 triumph.

The win moved Detroit to 6-2, its best start to a season since 2008-09. The Pistons climbed to second place in the Eastern Conference and in the Central Division.

Head Coach JB Bickerstaff he commented on the team’s slow first half and how they managed to bounce back afterwards during the post-game media session.

“That first half, we weren’t happy with the way we played defense. We knew we were capable of more. And that was the tone at halftime — we just had to come out and play Pistons basketball,” Bickerstaff explained. “The first half, we messed around with the game a little bit defensively. They have good offensive players, so if you do that, they’re able to keep up with your game state. But I thought we did a great job setting the tone coming out in the third quarter.”

The first half was not ideal basketball for Detroit, even while the score was close. Utah led by as many as 12 points at the beginning of the competition. After trailing by two at halftime, the Pistons turned up the defensive intensity, holding the Jazz to 14 points in the third quarter.

Detroit held on to its foundations to cruise to another home win. They were dominant at the rim, scoring 60 points in the paint and allowing just 36 from Utah. The Pistons’ defensive effort was impressive, blocking six Jazz shots. Four of those six blocks came from Isaiah Stewart.

One of the highlights of the season has been the explosive growth of starting center Jalen Duren. The fourth-year left his mark in this game with a dominant performance, recording 22 points and 22 rebounds in 34 minutes.

It’s the fourth double-double of the season and Duren’s fourth career 20-20 game.

Bickerstaff talked about how impactful the 21-year-old center has been on both ends for the Pistons.

“He just creates so many problems for both the defense and the offense,” Bickerstaff said. “When he finishes and closes possessions for us on the defensive end of the floor, giving people just one chance, it gives our offense a chance to get out and run. When he finishes, challenges, contests or rebounds, it limits the opportunities the offense gets. So there are so many ways he helps us.

“Tonight was a different night for him, too. Being more on the perimeter, switching more … Teams have to adjust. And when you have teams adjusting during the season and they don’t have a ton of practice time, there are usually holes. So he was able to take advantage of those holes.”

Another positive trend for the Pistons is the late game emergence All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham. Detroit’s offense finished the night with 31 points, but 19 came in the final period. Cunningham currently leads the NBA in fourth quarter scoring with 86.

The Pistons’ leading playmaker was also cautious when he fixed one of his own the biggest problems of his career. Cunningham added 10 assists with just three turnovers. This is Cunningham’s fourth double-double of the season.

Bickerstaff was proud of the progress his point guard has made in taking better care of the basketball.

“Growth, right? Understanding what plays there are and making that simple one over and over again. I think last year, if you go back and look, he got caught on some of the home plays. And that’s where the turnovers came from,” Bickerstaff said. “But I think this year he’s a lot more deliberate with his passes, understanding what’s there and living in the moment. (Cade) understands how that one change can make so much difference. It can be a momentum change. So I think he’s done a great job staying in the moment and just making the reads.”