In the third, the Pistons couldn’t get a stop defensively or the benefit of the whistle from the officials. They gave up 44 points in part because they were whistled for 14 personal fouls, after committing just six in the first half. Utah went 17-for-18 at the line, while the Pistons made just three of their six attempts. 

The Jazz took their biggest lead of the game, 104-89, with 2:34 remaining in the period after Kevin Love knocked down three free throws after a foul by Daniss Jenkins. They outscored the Pistons 37-21 before late 3-pointers from Jenkins and Javonte Green cut it back to single digits, 111-103, entering the fourth. 

Second halves haven’t been kind to the Pistons this week. The Portland Trail Blazers erased a 21-point third quarter lead for the Pistons on Monday before Detroit rallied late with an 11-2 run. A day later, the Sacramento Kings cut a 21-point lead to eight with under two minutes left in the final period before the Pistons iced the win with free throws.  

Jaden Ivey shines as minutes restriction continues

A tepid start to the game by the Pistons allowed the Jazz to build an early nine-point lead. Ausar Thompson, who played just under 16 minutes on Friday, sat for Ivey midway through the opening quarter after he committed three turnovers early. Once Ivey checked in, the Pistons’ offense took off.

A 22-5 Pistons run followed after Ivey entered the game, and he was the key. Ivey assisted a give-and-go with Tobias Harris to cut the deficit to two, 23-21, and a 3-pointer from Ivey with 3:51 on the clock extended the run to 12-2 and gave them the lead, 26-25. Ivey had a late layup and assisted a layup by Ron Holland to extend their lead to eight at the end of the opening quarter.

In 14 minutes of action through the first three quarters, Ivey picked up 11 points, four assists and went 3-for-3 from 3. He didn’t play in the fourth quarter, continuing a trend over the last two weeks as the Pistons manage his return from a broken fibula and knee surgery.

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Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X @omarisankofa.