Detroit Pistons race past Indiana Pacers 130-106 in NBA Cup game

November 30, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS — The Detroit Pistons got healthier and took care of business on the road. Now they face a win-and-get-in scenario for the Emirates NBA Cup.

The Pistons defeated the Indiana Pacers 130-106 at Gainsbridge Fieldhouse on Friday to improve to 9-12 overall and 3-0 in the NBA Cup group stage. The win means the Pistons East Group B game against the Milwaukee Bucks will be decided in Tuesday’s game at Little Caesars Arena.

On Friday, Cade Cunningham returned after a three-game absence with a left sacroiliac joint sprain and finished the game with 24 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and six turnovers. Tobias Harris also returned to score 16 points after missing Wednesday’s 20-point loss at Memphis.

Malik Beasley led the team with 25 points, and Jaden Ivey (23 points, six assists), Jalen Duren (14 points, 12 rebounds, four blocks) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (10 points) also reached double figures. Pascal Siakam led the Pacers with 21 points and added nine rebounds.

It was an all-around strong performance on offense for the Pistons, who set a season-high in points and shot a season-high 48 of 83 (57.8%) overall and 18 of 38 (47.4%) from 3. It helped them get through a difficult night of turnovers as they finished the game with 18.

With a win over the Bucks on Tuesday, the Pistons will advance to the knockout round of the tournament. The first game will take place on December 10th or 11th at a location to be determined.

GET BETTER:3 reasons for the Detroit Pistons’ improved start in 20 games

Cunningham and Harris return

The Pistons’ offense collapsed Wednesday without Cunningham and Harris, who head coach JB Bickerstaff said gave the team a calming influence on the field. Both players put in a strong performance in their return match on Friday.

Cunningham controlled the ball early and helped the Pistons go on a first-period run that gave them a 12-point lead, 33-21. He found Hardaway with a corner pass to the far side for a corner 3-pointer, then set up Harris for a three-point play to spark a 10-0 run that gave them the lead after one had to accept a 16:11 deficit.

His 3-pointer at 4:45 of the third quarter gave the Pistons a 21-point lead, their largest lead of the night.

Harris delivered one of his most efficient performances of the season, scoring 16 points on eight shot attempts and scoring an important basket at the crucial moment. Four Pistons turnovers in the first five minutes of the final period helped the Pacers cut their 21-point deficit to 10.

The Pistons nearly got their fifth turnover, but Ivey saved the ball from going out of bounds and found Harris for a corner 3-pointer to give them the breathing room they needed and prevent Indiana from getting it to single digits to reduce numbers.

Ausar Thompson limited himself to short missions

With Cunningham and Harris recovering from injuries, Thompson returned to the bench after Wednesday’s start. He played 16 minutes in his season debut Monday and 20 minutes against the Grizzlies, but the Pistons are still managing his minutes while he works on his conditioning.

Thompson was limited to 2:23 of playing time in the first quarter before playing a nearly five-minute stint in the second. He was visibly exhausted when he knocked down two free throws just before halftime to extend the lead back to 15.

“We’re going to be extremely careful,” Bickerstaff said before the game. “There is no reason for us to push it or rush it. As soon as he started, you could tell that his first assignment was very short. What we don’t want is for him to not try to save it and now he doesn’t get what he needs.

“We need him to go out there and be explosive and do the things that make him a really good basketball player.” If that’s just three or four minutes, then it’s three or four minutes for now, and that number will increase as the game goes on “Continue to grow this season.”

Thompson didn’t look quite like himself after missing more than eight months due to blood clots. Given that he hasn’t been able to play five-on-five contact basketball, this is expected. You will be patient and slowly increase his workload.

Tags:access:free, ssts:sports:nba:pistons, sstsn:pistons, tag:Apple Inc, tag:Basketball, tag:Cade Cunningham, tag:Detroit Pistons, tag:Jaden Ivey, tag:Jalen Duren, tag:JB Bickerstaff, tag:Malik Beasley, tag:NBA, tag:Overall positive, tag:Pascal Siakam, tag:Sports News, type:story

Related Posts

About The Author

Taylor Reeves

Add a Comment