Detroit, MI
Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren power Pistons to third straight win
Defensive disruption key factor for Detroit Pistons’ wins and losses
Omari and Bryce break down the Detroit Pistons’ 4-game losing streak and why their defense is the key element to their style of play.
The Detroit Pistons closed a two-game homestead with another blowout.
They defeated a banged-up Memphis Grizzlies team at Little Caesars Arena, 126-110, on Friday, March 13, behind a strong effort by Jalen Duren. The All-Star big overpowered Memphis’ frontcourt and finished with 30 points and 13 rebounds on 12-for-15 overall shooting.
Cade Cunningham had near-triple double with 17 points, 15 assists, eight rebounds and three steals, and Marcus Sasser added 16 points in a 313 Day victory. It was Cunningham’s third game in a row with at least 13 assists. The Pistons led by as many as 22 points and pulled away in the third quarter, extending their lead to 17 with a 16-5 run midway through the period.
With the win, the Pistons (48-18) extended their lead to five games over the Boston Celtics in the East, with the Celtics idle Friday. The also rounded off thelr Central Division lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers to an even eight games with 16 to play this season.
Next up for the Pistons
The Pistons can also take a step toward clinching a playoff spot, as they head to Toronto to face the East’s 7-seed, the Toronto Raptors, on Sunday (3:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit). The Pistons enter Saturday with an 11½-game lead on the Raps; a win would put them 12½ up with 15 to play.
Medical roll call
Caris LeVert (left wrist sprain) returned for the Pistons following a three-game absence. They were without Ausar Thompson (right ankle sprain) for the fifth straight game. Tobias Harris (left hip soreness) also missed the game.
More than half of the Grizzlies’ rotation was out for the game, including star guard Ja Morant, Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Santi Aldama, Brandon Clarke, Scotty Pippen Jr. and GG Jackson.
Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter spark offense in second quarter
Injuries have opened the door for coach J.B. Bickerstaff to experiment with lineups through recent weeks. One combination he wants to see more of: Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter, two of the Pistons’ most respected shooters. He liked what he saw from the duo against the San Antonio Spurs last week; injuries to Thompson and LeVert have opened more minutes for Huerter, who initially was out of their rotation after arriving at the trade deadline.
Huerter checked in for Robinson with four minutes left in the first quarter, and Robinson checked back in to join Huerter at the 8:44 mark of the second. The Pistons turned a five-point deficit into a five-point lead by the time Huerter checked out again with 5:49 to play until halftime.
The two players led the run, with Huerter knocking down a 3 before Robinson found Isaiah Stewart in transition with a lob, followed by a 3-pointer from Robinson that gave the Pistons the lead for good, 46-44. Huerter made his first three shots, including a pair of 3-pointers, and played at least 20 minutes for the fourth game in a row.
Marcus Sasser has best outing as a starter
Bickerstaff has stuck with Sasser in the starting lineup for five consecutive games since Thompson’s injury. The third-year guard needed a few games to find a groove, shooting 3-for-12 during his first two starts. Friday was one of his best outings of the season, with his 16 points his highest total since scoring 18 on Jan. 1 against the Miami Heat.
Sasser is one of the better shooters on the team and provides a different element to the starting lineup, compared to Thompson. Friday marked his second time in three games knocking down four 3-pointers, and he repeatedly punished the Grizzlies for leaving him alone in the left corner.
He helped the Pistons shut the door in the second half, knocking down a pair of 3-pointers to keep the Pistons in control after Memphis cut it to three, 75-72, with just under nine minutes left in the third. His fourth 3-pointer of the night midway through the period extended a 16-5 Pistons run and gave them their biggest lead up to that point, 94-77.
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