The short-handed Detroit Pistons missing three starters and a key backup were winning by double-digits for the majority of a rematch against the Los Angeles Clippers on hot early shooting from Duncan Robinson and a tenacious defense that turned plenty of turnovers into ample easy baskets. The script flipped in the fourth quarter, however, and the Pistons missed shots, committed dumb fouls and turned the ball over 10 times. That meltdown saw a 14-point lead turn into a 98-92 loss.
The Pistons played
without starters Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris, and backup big man Isaiah Stewart. That created opportunities for two two-way players, and tonight the results were mixed. Daniss Jenkins committed several key turnovers in the fourth quarter and hit just one of his three three-pointers. Tolu Smith was just 1-of-7 from the floor, but did his 7-of-8 from the foul line to go with 14 rebounds. But both struggled on D late in the game, and it proved costly.
Detroit started hot, with Duncan Robinson hitting three after three en route to 20 first-half points. The Clippers decided they had just about enough of Detroit’s best (only?) shooter burning them, and made a concerted effort to not allow Duncan another easy shot. He didn’t score in the second half.
And Pistons shooters not named Robinson were 3-of-28 from deep.
Despite the offensive struggles, it looked like the Pistons were in line to take this one courtesy of their defense, which remains one of the most dangerous in the league.
A Caris LeVert steal led to a thunderous windmill dunk from Ron Holland in transition to give the Pistons an 84-70 lead with 9:37 in the game. All Detroit needed to do was stay locked in on defense and eliminate any mistakes on offense. They did just about the opposite.
In the next 64 seconds, the Clippers had scored seven points. A Jordan Miller three 70 seconds later cut the lead to two.
Detroit had no answers for Kawhi Leonard (26 points) or John Collins (25), and while they forced James Harden into a tough 4-of-20 shooting night, he was able to coax his way to the free-throw line like we know Harden can. he was 1o-of-11 from the charity stripe and scored 19 points.
It became simply too difficult for the Pistons to run a functional offense once they couldn’t rely on the Clippers turning the ball over. With all the attention on Robinson, it left Jenkins, LeVert and Javonte Green to try to create for themselves. We know LeVert with the ball in his hands is always an adventure, and I’d wager Jenkins had never had to deal with so much defensive attention focused on him at the NBA level.
It was a bummer to see the lead crumble away, but I suppose it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that the Pistons couldn’t close this one out. The Pistons don’t play again until Thursday against the Suns. Hopefully by then Cunningham and Duren can return to the lineup.
