Detroit Pistons had an surprising layoff this week, although it wasn’t nice.
The workforce received caught in Dallas, because of a mixture of mechanical points with its aircraft and poor climate circumstances. The Pistons will return to motion with a back-to-back set of house video games, starting with a matchup in opposition to Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
Detroit was supposed to start the homestand in opposition to Washington Wizards on Wednesday after dropping to the Mavericks 111-105 on Monday night time. However, the Pistons didn’t go away Texas till Thursday afternoon.
The Pistons return house having misplaced 9 of their previous 11 video games. In the Monday defeat, Dallas famous person Luka Doncic overwhelmed Detroit with 53 factors — and fouled out Pistons level guards Jaden Ivey and Killian Hayes as they tried to protect him. Despite Doncic’s outburst, Detroit was down by simply two factors with lower than two minutes remaining. The Pistons got here up empty of their final 4 possessions whereas getting outscored 28-21 in the course of the last quarter.
“We missed some good looks at the end,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey mentioned. “We had three offensive fouls, stepped out of bounds twice. Just little things that you have to be disciplined and mature in those situations in closing time of the game to make those plays.”
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Bojan Bogdanovic’s 29 factors led the Pistons and Saddiq Bey contributed 18. However, Bey missed a possible tying layup with 1:10 left.
“I think we played as hard as we could,” Bey mentioned. “We’ve got to make better decisions, starting with me down the stretch.”
The Friday recreation would be the second of 4 conferences this season between the 2 groups on the backside of the Eastern Conference standings.
Detroit gained 141-134 in time beyond regulation at Charlotte on December 14. Alec Burks led the Pistons with 27 factors off the bench whereas Hayes had 25 and Bogdanovic equipped 24. Kelly Oubre Jr., at present sidelined because of a hand damage, topped the Hornets with 28 factors. “Last time with Detroit, the biggest difference was in the paint and on the glass,” Hornets coach Steve Clifford mentioned in a TV interview. “We’ve got to be more physical in the interior, we’ve got to finish more possessions.”
Charlotte will likely be enjoying the second of back-to-back highway video games, having misplaced 114-98 to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
The Hornets made solely seven of 35 3-point tries (20 %) and 41.9 % of their field-goal makes an attempt general. The Bulls shot 51.9 % from the ground, 39.3 % (11 of 28) from lengthy vary.
“We played with good effort, we played with good energy. We didn’t shoot the ball well,” Clifford mentioned. “We’ve got to keep playing no matter what when the ball’s not going in the basket. And that to me was a big factor in the game.”
Hornets level guard LaMelo Ball, who compiled 19 factors, eight rebounds and 6 assists, was ejected within the late going for arguing a non-call. Clifford was not happy. “We have one rule. No fourth-quarter technicals,” the coach mentioned. “Can’t take them. It’s inexcusable because the fourth quarter’s different.”
The Hornets have nonetheless gained half of their final eight video games.
“I think we’re starting to (improve) because we’re healthier,” Clifford mentioned. “Hopefully as we get guys into their minutes, into their playing groups, and we can stay healthy, we’ll have a chance these last 30 games to play better.”
