Cade Cunningham’s 38 points not enough for the Pistons
A wise man once said, “You don’t want to be that team.” Well, the Detroit Pistons were that team in a 129-125 loss to the visiting Washington Wizards .
Cade Cunningham scored 38 points, including a career 20-of-21 night from the free-throw line. It wasn’t enough for a Pistons team who played, slow, sluggish, and unfocused for the majority of the game.
The offense was slow, too many shots were forced, the help defense was late, and they played too far off of Washington’s shooters. The Wizards made 20 3-pointers and shot 44% from deep to offset Cunningham’s game, and it was enough to steal a win in Detroit.
The broadcast team of George Blaha and Greg Kelser were effusive in their praise of a Wizards team who came to play. I hate to disagree with the iconic duo, but this night was more about Detroit not playing any semblance of defense and too few Pistons presenting any sense of offensive danger.
It was great to finally see the Pistons budding superstar get superstar calls, but that really papered over a lot of issues for the Pistons on both ends.
Sometimes a superstar can will his team to wins on off nights, even on nights when that same star goes 0-of-7 from deep. Tonight, though, the miscues were too much to overcome.
The Pistons went down as many as 13 in the fourth quarter but stormed back behind Cunningham and Jalen Duren (18 points, 14 rebounds). By the end of the quarter, the Pistons had a five-point lead, and the Little Caesars Arena crowd finally came alive.
The Wizards never stopped competing though, and tied it by the midway point of the frame. The teams traded baskets back and forth.
Detroit took its final lead 125-124 on a Duren tip-in with 1:05 remaining, but gave up a wide open Alex Sarr (19 points) dunk on the ensuing possession.
Cunningham drove into the lane on the next possession but Alex Sarr blocked his attempted layup out of bounds. Originally it was ruled Detroit’s ball, but a coach’s challenge changed the call as it was determined Sarr blocked it into Cade’s arm, which then forced the ball out of bounds.
The Pistons were able to force a miss with 14 seconds remaining but Khris Middleton knocked the ball out of Cunningham’s hands and out of bounds.
Washington’s Bub Carrington sank the needed free throws to put the game away.
If you’re a glass half full person, you’d note that it’s been a while since the Pistons really showed out from deep (they shot 30% tonight), and if they can get their shooters shooting again, they will keep winning. Or you could say it’s a good reality check before a huge test against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
If you’re a glass half empty person, you’d note the Pistons dropped a game they couldn’t afford to lose against the worst team in the Eastern Conference just as they are righting for home court advantage in the playoffs.
You decide where you sit.