Like some New Yorkers, the Detroit Pistons took the subway to work on Sunday morning.
With most streets, avenues and bridges closed due to the New York City Marathon, the Pistons had to find an alternate way to get to Barclays Center for their afternoon game against the Brooklyn Nets.
And if the Pistons continue to perform as they did in the second half, they might need to reconsider travel plans to future games.
Detroit’s defense allowed just 35 points on 13-of-35 shooting and 2-of-15 shooting from 3-point range by the Nets. The Pistons entered Sunday allowing 53 second-half points per game.
NYC Marathon took us on a detour… pic.twitter.com/gjqNZv0j8p
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 3, 2024
“I thought the guys, just from a grit standpoint, how hard they played and then how they shared the ball tonight, it was unbelievable,” Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff told the media during his postgame news conference. “I think tonight we played an identity game, and it was big for us.”
In the 106-92 win, the Pistons (2-5) finished with 25 assists on 37 made baskets. Four players had at least four assists and eight players dished out an assist.
At halftime, Detroit trailed 57-52 as Brooklyn shot 19 of 36 from the field and 7 of 16 from 3-point distance.
Cam Johnson was in a rhythm, posting 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting and 3 of 6 from long range in 16 minutes. But Johnson, who finished with 26 points, made just two shots and missed his six 3-point attempts in the second half.
Detroit guard Cade Cunningham was the primary defender on Johnson with Malik Beasley and Jaden Ivey providing help when Cunningham was on the bench.
Cam Thomas, who averages 28.2 points per contest, was the only other Brooklyn player to finish in double figures — scoring 17 points.
The Pistons managed six double-figure scorers for the first time since opening night. Cunningham posted a team-high 19 points, six rebounds and five assists. Tobias Harris and Beasley added 18 apiece. Ivey chipped in 15 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. had 14 and Jalen Duren had a 13-point, 17-rebound double-double with three blocks. Of each of these contributors, Beasley notched a game-high plus-18.
“We need to be known as a grit team,” Beasley said. “The Bad Boys, that whole thing. We did that tonight and got some steals and it was physical, so it was good.”
While Detroit is honing its grit, turnovers are plaguing the team. The Pistons had 11 giveaways in the first half and 17 total.
With a mix of young players and veterans, there will be ups and downs. The Pistons have shown flashes of promise and now sustaining that for a full game and long season will be the goal.
Cunningham and Ivey are both on pace for career bests in points, field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage.
But will it lead to more wins? Up next are the Los Angeles Lakers at Little Caesars Arena on Monday night.
“This whole group is a great group of character guys that come to play,” Harris. “We know when we’re at our game and we know how good we can be. We’ve just got to be consistent night in and night out. I thought this afternoon was a good start to that.”
(Top photo of Cade Cunningham: Wendell Cruz / Imagn Images)
