The Pistons blow up the Bucks zone

“Back to back” winner for Clipswho picked up their 10th win of the season at home last night by taking on the challenge posed by the Bucks, thanks to the 1-5 Cunningham-Duren axis and the outside skill of their outside shooters to make the difference after the break.

Milwaukee did their best to try to slow down these Pistons, and the plan worked pretty well through three quarters. The Bucks first held on thanks to Myles Turner’s incredible 4/4 shooting with three 3-point conversions, then 2+1 to start the game, and then the efficiency of the Porter-Jr Kuzma tandem. But it was primarily the zone defense that bore fruit against the Pistons in search of leads. The result of the races, despite the good sequences of the triple Cunningham-Thompson-Stewart, Detroit found itself under pressure at the break after 9-2 added by the triple Porter Jr-Trent Jr-Portis (61-56).

After returning from the locker room, the locals found momentum, with more movement and efficiency, which contributed to shaking the opponent’s zone. Jalen Duren (10 points in the third quarter) broke the deadlock by finishing twice under the circle, then Cade Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart stretched the Bucks defense with their skill on the outside. Cade Cunningham’s 2+1 in the process made it 13-3 to finish Milwaukee 15 lengths (74-59). Ausar Thompson took over, but two 3-pointers by Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr., followed by a 10-3 run at the end of the period, kept the Bucks in the game as the final act approached (89-81).

At that point, Wisconsin’s franchise lock was definitely broken. Jaden Ivey put in his two cents by hitting two 3-pointers before being imitated by Javonte Green, Isaiah Stewart and Caris LeVert, also twice. An avalanche of 3-pointers that eventually forced Milwaukee to give up, five minutes from time (116-91), offering a quiet finish to the match for the leader of the Eastern Conference, a winner 124-112.

WHAT TO REMEMBER

Adjusting the Pistons in the zone. In the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, all means are good to try to compete. On the floor with the best record in the conference, Doc Rivers opted for a zone defense that bore fruit in the first half, notably resulting in 13 Detroit turnovers. The rest was more difficult, as Detroit eventually found the key with the usual ingredients, more movement, Jalen Duren as a near-circle finisher and more outside skill as well. So much so that Milwaukee exploded at the beginning of the fourth quarter and went so far as to concede 27 points at the end of the match. In the end, Detroit only lost one possession in the second half!

The spirit of Giannis Antetokounmpo. If the content was interesting for the Bucks, given the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the context, in the “back-to-back” in the first conference, the numbers are there to remind Doc Rivers’ troops of the reality. In the absence of the Greek Freak, Milwaukee has yet to win a game, bringing the total to six in six games after last night’s streak.

Kevin Porter Jr scores. A full game for the leader, who rode a great address from long range (7/9) to gain confidence and deliver his best performance in a Bucks jersey since his arrival, with 32 points on 11/16 shooting, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals and one turnover in 36 minutes.

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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.