After gaining a much-needed win to end the calendar year of 2023, here’s to hoping the momentum carries over to the new year of 2024! Here is the January schedule of the Detroit Pistons, courtesy of ProSportsBackgrounds.com
After gaining a much-needed win to end the calendar year of 2023, here’s to hoping the momentum carries over to the new year of 2024! Here is the January schedule of the Detroit Pistons, courtesy of ProSportsBackgrounds.com
2024-01-31
Detroit Pistons hang tough with Cavaliers until final minutes in 128-121 road loss
Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press
CLEVELAND — For the second time this week, the Detroit Pistons punched above their weight class. But after defeating the Oklahoma City Thunder by 16 points on Sunday, they couldn’t go 2-for-2.
They fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, 128-121, in a back-and-forth game that was lost in the final 2 minutes. Detroit had a two-point lead with 3:18 remaining following a hook by Jalen Duren. But their red-hot shooting from deep went cold when they needed 3-pointers most, as Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks each missed one that would’ve answered Cleveland buckets and given Detroit the lead.
Jarrett Allen extended Cleveland’s lead to 122-118 with 1:58 to play, and a shot clock violation by the Pistons with under a minute left was answered by a pair of free throws by Donovan Mitchell, who led all scorers with 45 points and clinched the win.
Detroit shot 16-for-31 (51.6%) from 3 and 55.6% overall, but were undone by 17 turnovers. The Cavaliers had a 29-10 advantage in points scored off of turnovers and 15-4 advantage in second-chance points. The Pistons were without Isaiah Stewart, who sprained his left ankle on Sunday, and missed his interior presence.
Mike Muscala started in place of Stewart, who sprained his left ankle on Sunday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. But Muscala suffered a head injury after a fall early in the first quarter and exited the game after just 4 minutes of action.
Danilo Gallinari stepped up with 20 points, his season-high, on 4-for-4 shooting from 3. Cade Cunningham, who returned after missing Sunday’s game due to left knee strain recovery, added 19 points, seven assists, a pair of steals and didn’t commit a turnover. Bogdanovic added 17 points.
Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland returned from a six-week absence with a broken jaw and scored 19.
Gallinari turns back the clock
With Stewart injured and Muscala’s early exit, Gallinari was guaranteed a big role. He made the most of it.
The 35-year-old veteran sharpshooter was on fire from start to finish, and led an overall strong night for the second unit. It was his first time reaching the 20-point threshold in nearly two full years, with his last being on April 10, 2022 — a 26-point performance with the Atlanta Hawks.
He knocked down three 3-pointers during a 20-11 run, led by the second unit, to open the second quarter. The run gave the Pistons the lead, 45-43, after ending the first quarter facing a seven-point deficit. He started the second half in place of Muscala, and he hit his fourth 3-pointer early in it. It was a difficult one. As the shot clock expired, he knocked down a turnaround fadeaway with Mitchell draped over him.
A layup through contact by Gallinari brought the Pistons within two early in the fourth, and he knocked down a pair of free throws to give them their first lead of the final period, 100-98, with 8 minutes to play.
Detroit’s second unit has been noticeably improved since the trade with the Washington Wizards. Muscala was initially ahead of Gallinari in the rotation, but the latter showed that he still has some shot-making left in the tank.
Hayes picks up first DNP of season
The Pistons’ backcourt, for just the second time this season, was fully healthy on Wednesday. The first time was last Saturday, a game in which Hayes lost his starting job to Cunningham and played just 9 minutes and 30 seconds, his lowest mark of the season. The writing was on the wall, because this time around, he didn’t play at all.
It was Hayes’ first healthy scratch of the season, as his previous four absences were due to an illness. Cunningham and Ivey started alongside each other, and Marcus Sasser, Alec Burks and Monte Morris rounded out the guard rotation.
Hayes has been a favorite for head coach Monty Williams, who values his ball-control and size. But with Detroit’s crowded backcourt, it’s unclear if the team will be able to guarantee a role for him moving forward. It makes the pending restricted free agent, in Year 4 of his rookie contract, a player to watch as the Feb. 8 trade deadline approaches.
Next up: Clippers
Matchup: Pistons (6-41) vs. L.A. Clippers (31-15).
Tipoff: 7 p.m. Friday; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.