Detroit, MI
Detroit Pistons freeze up in preseason loss to Golden State despite blazing Jaden Ivey
Detroit Pistons defense stands out in preseason win vs Milwaukee Bucks
Pistons Pulse hosts Bryce and Omari talk about their major takeaway from the Pistons’ first preseason game. Full podcast out now.
The Golden State Warriors didn’t need their stars to bury the Detroit Pistons under a barrage of 3-pointers on Sunday.
The Pistons were blown out on the road by the Warriors, 111-93, even though the 2022 NBA champs were without Steph Curry and Draymond Green. They overcame their absence by knocking down 18 3-pointers on 39 attempts. A 17-2 run at the end of the first quarter created an insurmountable deficit for the Pistons, who knocked down just seven of their 29 shots beyond the arc (and only one of nine in the opening period).
Jaden Ivey led the Pistons with another strong night — 19 points (7-for-10 shooting, 3-for-5 from 3) and four assists, though he also committed four turnovers. Cade Cunningham (18 points, seven assists) and Jalen Duren (14 points, nine rebounds, three blocks) also scored in double figures.
OFFENSIVE WORK: Tobias Harris shines in debut, Cade Cunningham does a lot in blowout for Detroit Pistons
Six players reached double figures for the Warriors, with Moses Moody (14 points) leading the way. The Pistons (2-2) will finish the preseason on Wednesday at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers (7 p.m., Bally Sports Detroit).
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff replaced Tim Hardaway Jr. with Malik Beasley in the starting lineup, which was rounded out by Cunningham, Ivey, Duren and Tobias Harris (six points, four assists, three blocks, two steals).
Ivey continues to show consistency as shooter
The third-year guard has been the Pistons’ best offensive player, in part thanks to the leap he appears to be undertaking as a 3-point shooter. He entered Sunday’s game having knocked down six of 12 attempts through three games, and he was nearly the only Piston who could hit one against the Warriors, responsible for three of their seven makes.
It’s not just Ivey’s shooting, though — his speed is a weapon and he has looked more confident in an offense in which he has consistently found ways to get moving downhill. Ivey has attacked open space on cuts, lost defenders on screens and beat entire defenses in transition. So far in preseason, he’s second in field goal percentage (26-for-43, 60.5%) and only trails Cunningham in shot attempts.
Pistons still seeking balance in first and second units
It was a competitive game for all of eight minutes. When Cunningham checked out for the first time, with 4:34 to play in the first quarter, the Pistons trailed 16-15. They didn’t score a field goal the rest of the quarter to trail by 14 points at the end of the period.
The second unit, with Ivey as the sole ball-handler playing with Hardaway Jr., Ron Holland, Simone Fontecchio and Isaiah Stewart, struggled to find its flow as Golden State fired 3-pointers, making six of their seven attempts in the quarter. Cunningham and Harris are two of the Pistons’ best passers, and the offense faltered with both of them on the bench.
Bickerstaff has staggered Cunningham and Ivey so far, but Ivey may need more support if he’s to play long stretches of the game without Cunningham.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.
Detroit, MI
Detroit Lions rule out All-Pro safety, list 7 others as questionable vs. Rams
ALLEN PARK — The Detroit Lions will be without safety Kerby Joseph again this weekend, while listing seven other players as questionable.
Joseph and fellow safety Brian Branch were the only players ruled out ahead of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Branch is out for the season due to an Achilles injury, but has not been placed on injured reserve yet. And Joseph, who will now miss his eighth straight game, suffered a setback and could be a candidate for injured reserve, per Dan Campbell.
The Lions listed tight end Shane Zylstra (knee), running back Sione Vaki (thumb), wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle), guard Christian Mahogany (fibula), safety Thomas Harper (concussion protocol), left tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder/rest) and guard Kayode Awosika (foot) as questionable.
Decker has not practiced this week. But he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury all season and is coming off playing three games in less than two weeks. Awosika missed last week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys due to his foot injury. The veteran guard has practiced in a limited capacity all week long.
Trystan Colon and Miles Frazier split duties at left guard last week for Awosika. The Lions will have a decision to make there between those three options, but perhaps for only another weekend.
Mahogany returned to practice this week. He seems like a longshot to play this weekend based on his injury. But the Lions are listing him as questionable after logging three limited practices in his first action back on the field.
Zylstra has been back at practice for two weeks in his return from injured reserve. Heading into the weekend, the Lions have only one tight end on their 53-man roster (Anthony Firkser) and hope to get Zylstra back.
Campbell said Harper has a chance to play against the Rams despite spending the week in concussion protocol. The Lions could sure use Harper, with Branch and Joseph both out, to hold things down at safety with Avonte Maddox against the high-powered Rams.
“Harper will be out there at practice today, so feel pretty good about him, but we’ll see,” Campbell said on Friday morning. “There again, I can’t give you definitives right now, but that’s kind of where we’re at.
“So, we’ll be good. Look, (Erick) Hallett’s been taking reps, (Daniel Thomas) DT’s been taking reps, Maddox has been taking reps. We’ve got plenty of guys. They’re getting valuable reps, so we’re good.”
Raymond has missed two consecutive games due to an ankle injury suffered against the New York Giants. He has a shot to return after working back into practice, and should reclaim his role returning punts.
Vaki has continued to play through his thumb injury. He hasn’t returned kickoffs since suffering the injury, with Tom Kennedy and Jacob Saylors taking over.
Detroit, MI
Oilers turn in smart, defensive game and Hyman hat trick for 4-1 win over Detroit: Cult of Hockey Player Grades
CONNOR McDAVID. 9. In a quiet first minutes of this one McDavid had the most dangerous shot for, glancing off Talbot’s shoulder and out. Terrific patience on the doorstep before dishing to Hyman for the 1-0. Nearly outwaited Talbot again later in the frame. Dished the disk back to Ekholm on the 2-0. Pranced in and rifled a backhand off Talbot. Hi-lite reel assist on the 3-1, where he knocks down a puck then puts a backhand through his own legs to a waiting Hyman alone in the slot. An assist on the 4-1, for his forty-third four-point game. 63% on faceoffs. Second Star.
Detroit, MI
SAY Detroit unveils plans for new play center on city’s west side
Detroit Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown on ankle injury recovery
Amon-Ra St. Brown said he started feeling better two days before the Detroit Lions’ game against the Cowboys, after injuring his ankle Thanksgiving.
SAY Detroit had a surprise in store during its 14th annual fundraiser.
The charity founded by Detroit Free Press columnist Mitch Albom announced plans for a new SAY Detroit Play Center on the city’s west side during its annual radiothon, taking place on Thursday, Dec. 11. The after-school educational center will be built on the campus of St. Cecilia’s church, which includes the historic St. Cecilia gym, also known as the Mecca of Detroit basketball.
The new facility will be called the SAY Detroit Play Center at St. Cecilia.
This will be the organization’s second play center, with the first opening in 2015 along Van Dyke Avenue on the city’s east side. The center provides educational and recreational opportunities for kids from 8-18 at Lipke Park.
The announcement was made during the foundation’s 15-hour radiothon, which raises money for SAY Detroit and other affiliated charities. Last year’s radiothon raised a record $2.23 million, with the fundraiser bringing in over $16.5 million in total since it was launched in 2012.
SAY Detroit was founded in 2006 by Albom and operates the play center and free family health clinic, along with providing a housing program for Detroit families and other direct efforts with the community.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
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