All articles tagged with #pistons
In Detroit, a heated first half of the Spurs-Pistons game saw tempers flare and benches on edge as Cade Cunningham faced Victor Wembanyama, with sideline shouts from Spurs coach Mitch Johnson and Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, while Devin Vassell contributed early scoring for San Antonio.
San Antonio surrounded Victor Wembanyama with shooters and ball handlers, hitting 18 threes to Detroit's seven as the Spurs beat the Pistons 114-103. Devin Vassell (28) and Julian Champagnie (17) carried the offense while Cade Cunningham struggled (5-for-26), highlighting Detroit's lack of reliable shooting and playmaking around him in a playoff-like, bounce-back game for a top opponent.
San Antonio remains No. 1 in NBA.com’s Week 19 Power Rankings after an 8‑0 February, while Detroit surges to No. 2 behind a 17‑of‑21 run and a season sweep of the Knicks. Oklahoma City sits No. 3 and New York is No. 4, with Boston at No. 5 despite Jayson Tatum’s uncertain status. Washington jumps two spots and Indiana falls two as the league navigates a crowded late‑season schedule. Denver is highlighted as Week 19’s team to watch amid a tough West slate, and the Suns deal with Booker’s hip strain and Brooks’ hand injury while Embiid’s absence continues to loosen Philadelphia’s rhythm. The week features marquee matchups and interconference tests as teams chase seeding in the final stretch.
New York failed to feed Karl-Anthony Towns early as a center-less Pistons squad—without Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart due to suspensions—built a halftime lead and held on for the win. Towns finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists but only took three shots in the first half, then provided a spark in the third quarter. Coach Mike Brown said the Knicks will continue to run their system and search for ways to free Towns, who is having a down shooting season. The Knicks dropped the game and sit 0-3 in a stretch against the East’s No. 1 seed.
Detroit rebuilt from a 14-win club into a physically tough, paint‑focused team under coach J.B. Bickerstaff and front office leader Trajan Langdon, adding veteran leadership and developing Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart while Rick Mahorn serves as a link to the Bad Boys era. The strategy emphasizes grit, structure and defense, lifting the Pistons into the league’s top defensive ranks and sparking a dramatic win increase, signaling a return to relevancy with an identity that blends old-school toughness with today’s NBA realities.
A heated second-half confrontation between the Detroit Pistons and Charlotte Hornets led to four players being ejected, including Jalen Duren, Moussa Diabate and Miles Bridges, as Detroit prevailed in Charlotte.
In Charlotte, a heated third-quarter clash between the Hornets and Pistons escalated into an unsanctioned brawl when Jalen Duren and Moussa Diabaté fought, followed by Miles Bridges and Isaiah Stewart; Stewart even charged from the bench. Four players were ejected—Duren and Stewart for Detroit; Diabaté and Bridges for Charlotte—with league suspensions expected.
Detroit sent Jaden Ivey to the Chicago Bulls as part of a three-team deal that also moves Minnesota’s protected 2026 first-round pick to Detroit and brings Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to the Pistons, while Chicago receives Ivey and veteran guard Mike Conley Jr. Ivey departs after four seasons (214 games, 14.9 ppg, 4.0 apg); Huerter provides shooting for Detroit (career 37.1% from deep, this season around 31.4%), and Saric adds frontcourt depth. The trade reshapes Detroit’s roster ahead of the next season.
The Pistons beat the Celtics to extend their East lead and don’t appear to need a big trade, but they must plan for a likely return of Jayson Tatum, which would make Boston a tougher playoff opponent and could spark a move to add size to counter him and Brown at the deadline.
Keyonte George scored 31 points, including a game-winning floater with 2.1 seconds left, leading the Utah Jazz to a 131-129 victory over the Detroit Pistons, who narrowly missed a comeback despite strong shooting and a standout performance by Cade Cunningham.
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Detroit Pistons 89-73 in a Summer League game marked by physical play, numerous fouls, and turnovers, with standout performances from TJ Shannon and Leonard Miller, and the game featured intense defense and late-game runs. The Wolves remain undefeated with a 3-0 record and prepare for their next game against the Phoenix Suns.
Pistons guard Malik Beasley faces a multimillion-dollar lawsuit from Hazan Sports Management Group for breach of contract, amid ongoing criminal gambling investigations related to games in January 2024, which has paused his contract negotiations with the Pistons.
Duncan Robinson has agreed to a three-year, $48 million deal with the Detroit Pistons through a sign-and-trade with Miami, replacing the production of the departed Beasley and aiming to strengthen the team's three-point shooting.
The Detroit Pistons are signing Caris LeVert to a two-year, $29 million contract, adding a versatile wing player with NBA experience who can contribute off the bench and potentially as a small forward, following Malik Beasley's gambling allegations.
The Detroit Pistons have agreed to a two-year, $11 million deal to re-sign free agent center Paul Reed, with the second year non-guaranteed, after a season where he played mainly as a backup and was involved in a complex contract situation with the Sixers.