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It was an ugly win for the Detroit Pistons following a four-day break – but a win nonetheless.
The Pistons defeated the Phoenix Suns at home, 108-105, after having four key players return from injury — Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart. The Suns were without superstar (and Grand Rapids native) Devin Booker (left ankle sprain).
Duncan Robinson led the Pistons with 19 points, Duren had a double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds and Harris scored 16 points and grabbed seven boards. Jaden Ivey added 15 points off the bench, and Ron Holland had 11 points.
It was a tough night for Cunningham in his return from a two-game absence. He finished with a double-double — 10 points and 11 assists — but shot 3-for-16 overall, 0-for-7 from 3 and 4-for-9 at the free throw line.
REST STOP: Rare midseason break came at perfect time for beat-up Detroit Pistons
The Pistons rallied in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't easy closing out the Suns.
With 20 seconds left, Grayson Allen missed a pair of 3-pointers on the same possession that would've cut it to one. With the Pistons nursing a 106-102 lead, Holland split a trip at the free throw line with 13.2 seconds left to pad the lead to five, 107-102.
Allen missed another 3-pointer on the ensuing Suns possession, but Holland missed two free throws with 7.6 seconds on the clock to keep hope alive for Phoenix. Allen didn't miss his next 3-pointer, splashing one with 3.1 seconds left to cut it to two, 107-105. With two seconds to go, Robinson split two free throws and Allen's 3 at the buzzer was an airball.
Despite the win, the Pistons struggled at the line in crunch time. That included three missed free throws from Cunningham. A hook from midrange by Cunningham made it a two-possession game, 104-100, with 2:31 remaining, but he missed a pair of free throws with 2:13 to play in the final period after Dillon Brooks (16 points) fouled out. At the 1:52 mark, Cunningham split a trip at the line to extend their lead to 105-100.
The Pistons held the Suns to 37.8% shooting in the second half, and committed just six turnovers after struggling with the ball in the first half.
The win improved the Pistons to 29-10, tying the franchise's second-best 39-game start with the 2007-08 squad, behind only the 2005-06 iteration. The Pistons improved to 4½ games up on the New York Knicks (who played late Thursday against the Golden State Warriors in California) in the race for the No. 1 seed, and eight games up on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division. Next up, the Pistons host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday (7:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit); the Pacers, Eastern Conference champs last season, are last in the NBA, at 9-32.
It was a poor offensive first half for the Pistons, who trailed by 16 at one point and committed 11 turnovers and shot 42.9%. Ivey was one of the bright spots.
He checked in midway through the first quarter and made an immediate impact, hitting a midrange jumper after creating space with a behind-the-back move, followed by a pair of 3-pointers to tie it at 23. Despite his strong start, he didn’t appear in the second quarter. But he picked up where he left off in the second half.
Ivey knocked down a pair of midrange jumpers at the end of the third to make it a one-possession game, and then hit his third 3-pointer of the night with 7:57 remaining in the fourth to tie it at 94.
The fourth-year guard’s play has been inconsistent since his debut Nov. 22, and he was coming off back-to-back quiet performances entering Thursday. He had only scored eight points in each of his last two games on 7-for-19 (36.8%) shooting. But prior to that, he set his previous season-high with 16 points in a win against the Knicks.
It had been more than two weeks since the Pistons last had their full starting five healthy. Harris exited their Dec. 30 road game with a left hip sprain, and Duren joined him on New Year’s Day after spraining his right ankle against the Miami Heat.
Then, Cunningham suffered a right wrist contusion leading into their Jan. 7 home game against the Chicago Bulls, and Stewart missed the following game Jan. 10 with an illness against the Los Angeles Clippers. Down three starters and their defensive anchor against the Clippers, the Pistons lost, following a late collapse.
The Pistons have had 12 different starting lineups this season due to injuries, and their preferred grouping — Cunningham, Robinson, Thompson, Harris and Duren — has started 21 games together, roughly half of the 39 the team has played this season.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons rally in 4th to beat Phoenix Suns, 108-105
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The Pistons defeated the Phoenix Suns at home, 108-105, after having four key players return from injury — Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart. The Suns were without superstar (and Grand Rapids native) Devin Booker (left ankle sprain).
Duncan Robinson led the Pistons with 19 points, Duren had a double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds and Harris scored 16 points and grabbed seven boards. Jaden Ivey added 15 points off the bench, and Ron Holland had 11 points.
It was a tough night for Cunningham in his return from a two-game absence. He finished with a double-double — 10 points and 11 assists — but shot 3-for-16 overall, 0-for-7 from 3 and 4-for-9 at the free throw line.
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REST STOP: Rare midseason break came at perfect time for beat-up Detroit Pistons
Final countdown
The Pistons rallied in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't easy closing out the Suns.
With 20 seconds left, Grayson Allen missed a pair of 3-pointers on the same possession that would've cut it to one. With the Pistons nursing a 106-102 lead, Holland split a trip at the free throw line with 13.2 seconds left to pad the lead to five, 107-102.
Allen missed another 3-pointer on the ensuing Suns possession, but Holland missed two free throws with 7.6 seconds on the clock to keep hope alive for Phoenix. Allen didn't miss his next 3-pointer, splashing one with 3.1 seconds left to cut it to two, 107-105. With two seconds to go, Robinson split two free throws and Allen's 3 at the buzzer was an airball.
Despite the win, the Pistons struggled at the line in crunch time. That included three missed free throws from Cunningham. A hook from midrange by Cunningham made it a two-possession game, 104-100, with 2:31 remaining, but he missed a pair of free throws with 2:13 to play in the final period after Dillon Brooks (16 points) fouled out. At the 1:52 mark, Cunningham split a trip at the line to extend their lead to 105-100.
The Pistons held the Suns to 37.8% shooting in the second half, and committed just six turnovers after struggling with the ball in the first half.
Detroit Pistons playoff picture
The win improved the Pistons to 29-10, tying the franchise's second-best 39-game start with the 2007-08 squad, behind only the 2005-06 iteration. The Pistons improved to 4½ games up on the New York Knicks (who played late Thursday against the Golden State Warriors in California) in the race for the No. 1 seed, and eight games up on the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division. Next up, the Pistons host the Indiana Pacers on Saturday (7:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit); the Pacers, Eastern Conference champs last season, are last in the NBA, at 9-32.
Jaden Ivey delivers big night off bench
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It was a poor offensive first half for the Pistons, who trailed by 16 at one point and committed 11 turnovers and shot 42.9%. Ivey was one of the bright spots.
He checked in midway through the first quarter and made an immediate impact, hitting a midrange jumper after creating space with a behind-the-back move, followed by a pair of 3-pointers to tie it at 23. Despite his strong start, he didn’t appear in the second quarter. But he picked up where he left off in the second half.
Ivey knocked down a pair of midrange jumpers at the end of the third to make it a one-possession game, and then hit his third 3-pointer of the night with 7:57 remaining in the fourth to tie it at 94.
The fourth-year guard’s play has been inconsistent since his debut Nov. 22, and he was coming off back-to-back quiet performances entering Thursday. He had only scored eight points in each of his last two games on 7-for-19 (36.8%) shooting. But prior to that, he set his previous season-high with 16 points in a win against the Knicks.
Pistons finally return to full strength
It had been more than two weeks since the Pistons last had their full starting five healthy. Harris exited their Dec. 30 road game with a left hip sprain, and Duren joined him on New Year’s Day after spraining his right ankle against the Miami Heat.
Then, Cunningham suffered a right wrist contusion leading into their Jan. 7 home game against the Chicago Bulls, and Stewart missed the following game Jan. 10 with an illness against the Los Angeles Clippers. Down three starters and their defensive anchor against the Clippers, the Pistons lost, following a late collapse.
The Pistons have had 12 different starting lineups this season due to injuries, and their preferred grouping — Cunningham, Robinson, Thompson, Harris and Duren — has started 21 games together, roughly half of the 39 the team has played this season.
[MUST WATCH: Make "The Pistons Pulse" your go-to Pistons podcast, listen available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
Want more Pistons updates? Download our free app for the latest news, alerts, eNewspaper and more.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons rally in 4th to beat Phoenix Suns, 108-105
Continue reading...
