The Detroit Pistons got back in the win column after a dominant performance from their All-Stars. Cade Cunningham led the way with 21 points and 15 assists while Jalen Duren crushed bones on his way to 26 points in the 138-100 win over the Brooklyn Nets.
The Pistons got right to it with a Duncan Robinson 3, and Marcus Sasser immediately followed suit. Detroit was 5/12 from 3 in the first period alone. The offense was flowing after a couple of rough games. Duren dominated the paint. With nifty fastbreak
euro steps and thunderous off-hand jams, Duren’s fingerprints were already all over this one. He finished the game going 9/10 from the field. No one could contain the beast.
The defensive intensity rose a bit when Ron Holland checked in. He forced offensive fouls with constant pressure. Javonte Green had a teammate-of-the-year moment when he stopped Holland from going at Brooklyn’s Nolan Traoré after Traoré pushed Holland. Holland’s defensive pressure frustrates opponents like that.
The Holland, Green, Cade, Kevin Huerter, and Isaiah Stewart lineup held the Nets to two points in their five minutes together to start the second quarter. This group was flying around. Huerter was a part of the group’s success even with his jumper still lagging behind. He hit the offensive glass and did the little things.
Brooklyn only scored 13 points in the second period. Detroit needed a showing that reflected its defensive identity. The defense had not been dominant over the last few games. Detroit got back to what they do best.
It’s understandable when a top-flight defense like Detroit slows any team down. That said, no one in Brooklyn could get it going while the game was in reach. Michael Porter Jr. has played at an All-Star level but had nothing for Detroit. The Pistons bottled up the sharpshooter as he was 1-6 from deep. Brooklyn was only 13/38 with some 3s coming in garbage time.
The Pistons didn’t have those struggles from 3. Detroit shot 50 percent as a squad, and Cade led the charge. He was 4/5 from range. Over the last 11 games, he’s shooting 45 percent on seven 3-point attempts. Cade’s jumper could be one of the Pistons’ X-factor come playoff time. He’s trending in the right direction. If teams can’t go under because he’s nailing shots like this, then good luck.
Sasser stepped up in the starting lineup with Ausar Thompson out. He buried four triples. Detroit will need that type of microwave shooting. The same goes for the night Daniss Jenkins had. He won’t average four steals, but that level of ferocity can offset tough shooting nights.
The Nets aren’t world-beaters by any means, but Detroit got out of its defensive slump. Shots won’t always fall, but defense is a non-negotiable for this team. Turning defense into offense has been a staple all season. Detroit scored 29 points off turnovers. That hadn’t happened since before the losing streak. Detroit handled the tanking Nets behind their physical brand of basketball. Next up is the Philadelphia 76ers in Detroit.
