The Pistons beat the Kings without forcing it

Beaten at home by Rockets during their last outing, the pistons wanted to redeem themselves in front of their fans, and the kings tried it! Despite the return of Domantas Sabonis to the starting five, Sacramento was unable to stop the bad patch, and conceded another loss that felt like a demonstration. Detroit was a few notches up as the game wore on, between the mastery of Cade Cunningham and the contributions of his many relays (8 players with 11 points or more).

In the end, the Kings lasted only one long quarter (35-35), especially thanks to the aggressive start of their outside trio of Westbrook-DeRozan-Clifford. The rest was much more complicated as Detroit took advantage of its opponent’s first layoff and went on a 15-4 run to start the second period, with a 3-pointer by Dennis Jenkins and a layup by Ron Holland II in transition to make it 50-39. The efforts of Malik Monk, DeMar DeRozan and Domantas Sabonis were then eclipsed by two 3-pointers from Tobias Harris, then four baskets by Cade Cunningham before he turned the break, using a Jalen Duren counter on Nick Clifford’s attempt (78-65).

The task suddenly became more complicated for the Kings, and the triples of Duncan Robinson, Tobias Harris and Cade Cunningham did not want to help matters after returning from the locker room, without forgetting the two flights of Auzar Thompson. Falling out by 21 lengths after two distant baskets by Cunningham (99-78), the Kings no longer had a say until the end. Keon Ellis, Malik Monk and others tried hard, but Detroit never gave up, even winning in the last quarter under the leadership of players from the bench and achieving its 33rd success of the season (139-116).

WHAT TO REMEMBER

Another show of force. The Pistons had their second-best offensive game of the season, finishing with 139 points. The match script, thrown away at the end of the third quarter, allowed J-Bickerstaff to shine on the players from the end of the bench to achieve this result. Detroit has only gone one better against Atlanta this season, winning 142-115 a month and a half ago. Note that these Pistons seem to enjoy playing the Kings. They already scored 136 points on the way out!

Cade Cunningham above the fray. Too powerful, too skilled, too fast… The Pistons’ leader again showed all of his talent with almost no effort, learning a lesson from Russell Westbrook and Dennis Schroeder to finish with 29 points on 13/22 shooting and 11 assists in 30 minutes. It was his best game since returning from a wrist injury two weeks ago.

Expulsion of Ron Holland II. The Pistons lacked lucidity at the end of the match. After a tussle with Keon Ellis, the winger received a light push from Nike Clifford. Thinking that Keon Ellis was the author, he violently pushed him away. Keon Ellis barely overreached by crashing to the ground, prompting the double-technique synonymous with Holland II’s ejection. An unfortunate gesture that the player could have avoided, and the score was 130-110, 5 minutes from the end.

https://www.youtube.com/vatch?v=h4K3HSG4Hf8

How to read statistics? Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive jump; T = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Difference of points when the player is on the field; Points = Points; Rating: player rating calculated based on positive actions – negative actions.