The Detroit Pistons and Utah Jazz have spent the past 17 months on opposite ends of the league spectrum, yet the two franchises have still put together a handful of competitive games.

Both teams gave their respective fan bases gifts on the day after Christmas, but the Jazz prevailed, handing the Pistons a 131-129 loss at Delta Center on Friday.

Detroit fell to 24-7 on the season and 2-1 on their current five-game West Coast road trip. The Pistons rallied from 15 points down (104-89), a deficit they sustained at the 2:15 mark of the third quarter. The Pistons’ defense was a no-show during the period, as they allowed 44 points to the Jazz.

“Discipline and execution, 44 points in a quarter is unacceptable,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “I know we ask a lot from our guys, and most nights, they give it to us.

“But tonight was one of those nights where we were loose from the start. In order to be who we want to be, we have to be consistent every night.”

Daniss Jenkins (six points) came off the bench and played a vital role in helping the Pistons rally by nailing a pair of 3-point field goals to initiate the comeback attempt.

BOX SCORE: Jazz 131, Pistons 129

Detroit came within two points (127-125) with 1:50 left in the fourth quarter. However, the Pistons had four consecutive empty possessions that halted their comeback.

Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 39 points, 17 assists and two blocks. The game marked his 17th double-double of the season, a milestone he achieved by halftime with 13 assists — a career-high through the first two quarters.

After nailing a clutch midrange jumper to bring the Pistons within two points, Cunningham tied the game by making two free throws with 18 seconds remaining. However, on Utah’s next offensive possession, Keyonte George scored a game-winning floater to secure the victory for the Jazz. He finished with a team-high 31 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

“When you are giving up 44 points, you are going to try and find guys who are going to go out there and compete on that end of the floor,” Bickerstaff said. “We found (a lineup) in the fourth quarter, and gave up only 20 points and worked our way back into the game, giving ourselves a chance to get back into it and possibly win it.”

Tobias Harris contributed with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Duncan Robinson added 14 points with four made 3-point field goals. Jaden Ivey scored 11 points and dished out four assists in just 14 minutes of play. He played a crucial role in the Pistons’ first-half dominance, helping them to hold an 11-point lead by the 6:02 mark of the second quarter.

Lauri Markkanen added 30 points for the Jazz, while Brice Sensabaugh finished with 20.

Observations and notes

â–¶ Holland returns: Since joining the Pistons in June 2024, Ron Holland II has maintained excellent health. However, he sustained a minor knee injury during Detroit’s victory over the Charlotte Hornets, which forced him to miss the first two games of the road trip.

The time off with some rehab was enough for Holland to return to the lineup against the Jazz. Amid his return, Holland played 19 minutes, finishing with 11 points and six rebounds.

▶ A quiet night for Duren: Jalen Duren had a disappointing performance against the Jazz. He played 21 minutes and did not resemble a player on the verge of his first All-Star appearance, finishing with 11 points and four rebounds.

coty.davis@detroitnews.com

@cotydavis_24

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