Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart on career-high 31 points in 108-93 win over Bulls
“I didn’t think I would score 30 at this level just because of my role and the way I play,” Isaiah Stewart said.
Detroit — Daniss Jenkins held the ball at the top of the key with 6:15 remaining in the fourth quarter. As he began to dribble to his right, Isaiah Stewart set a pick on Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu. This action drew a double team on Jenkins, prompting Kevin Huerter to step up for help with defense.
Jenkins took his time to read the action and immediately found Stewart, who finished with a one-handed dunk. The play between Jenkins and Stewart put the Detroit Pistons ahead by seven points (92-85). But more importantly, the play became an illustration of what led to the Pistons’ 108-93 victory on Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena.
It was a come-from-behind victory for the Pistons, who trailed by as many as seven points (72-65) by the 3:27 mark of the third quarter. Detroit improved to 28-9 on the season.
“Tonight, it was kind of ugly and uncomfortable. Offensively, we couldn’t really catch a rhythm. But we knew if we could get stops, we could get out in transition; we could figure out a way. For us, it’ll always come down to the defensive end of the floor,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said.
“That’s our catalyst. It triggers our offense. It triggers the energy, the spirit of the guys. So again, I think we did a great job figuring out how to get stops and then let the offense come from that.”
More: Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart making a case for NBA’s best defensive player
Jenkins’ and Stewart’s production helped the Pistons address a pair of dilemmas amid the absence of Cade Cunningham, who was sidelined with a right wrist injury. The Pistons needed someone to step up and fill the scoring void, as well as a player who could take on the playmaking duties.
Stewart and Jenkins rose to the occasion, addressing the Pistons’ concerns. Stewart recorded a career-high 31 points, shooting 14-of-17 from the field. He came out aggressively, accounting for 15 of Detroit’s first 36 points in the game. Recording a 30-point performance is an accomplishment Stewart never thought he would achieve at the NBA level.
“Having Cade out, that’s the head of the snake, especially what he does on offense,” Stewart said. “I just came in thinking, ‘Hey, we got to get it done.’ I did not know how we were going to get it done. But, it ended up being me scoring 31 points, and I’ll take that.”
BOX SCORE: Pistons 108, Bulls 93
The Pistons’ offense was subpar until the midway point of the third quarter. They struggled to find a rhythm, with Stewart being the only player capable of scoring. However, Bickerstaff began leaning upon Jenkins, who took the helm as Detroit’s primary playmaker.
Jenkins notched a career-best 15 assists, with 12 coming in the second half. In addition to his playmaking, the second-year guard added six rebounds and committed just one turnover.
More: ‘He has no quit’: How Daniss Jenkins went from unknown to Pistons sensation
“I just knew someone was going to get us going. I did not know who. But it just so happened to be me,” Jenkins said. “They (the Bulls) were playing two to the ball. I just had to make the read for everybody to be great.”
Bickerstaff added, “He read the game, and it made everybody else’s job easier. He figured out how they were playing the pick-and-roll. Where the outlets were going to be. They decided to take away the pockets, and I thought he did a great job of making those reads and setting the table for everyone.”
In the fourth quarter, the Pistons had their most productive period, outscoring the Bulls 32-16 behind the duo of Jenkins and Stewart. Detroit shot 60.9% from the field during the period and forced the Bulls into five turnovers. Javonte Green was huge during the quarter, where he scored seven of his 11 points.
Ron Holland II came off the bench to lead Detroit’s bench unit with 11 points and five rebounds. Ausar Thompson added 11 points and eight rebounds. Dosunmu led Chicago with 24 points, while Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vučević each scored 20. Vučević posted a double-double with 16 rebounds.
“We are all just some dawgs,” Stewart said. “We love it when everyone is healthy, but when guys are down, I look forward to the game. I know I’ll be out there with other players who are hungry and play defense. I don’t think other teams are expecting that. Everyone in this locker room looks forward to an opportunity of getting out on the floor, and they take advantage of it.”
Observations and notes
▶ Chaz Lanier makes a huge impact: Chaz Lanier played 12 minutes against the Bulls and had a significant impact on the game. He scored all eight of his points in the fourth quarter, helping to set the tone and build momentum for the Pistons’ victory after their lackluster performance in the first three quarters. He also made a handful of defensive stops, contributing to Detroit’s success.
“He’s a high-level offensive player. He just knows how to play offense, and that doesn’t leave you whether you play or don’t play,” Bickerstaff said. “I was more pleased with what he did defensively. He didn’t mess up one assignment, one coverage. He got the ball where it was supposed to be.
“Obviously, the feeling was we needed some space, we needed some shots to go, and that’s why he went in. But he did that, and then he was a two-way player at a high level also for us.”
“Definitely a testament to playing in the G League.”
Chaz Lanier speaks on the impact playing with the Motor City Cruise had on his performance in tonight’s game against the Bulls. #Pistons pic.twitter.com/jx59WMQeVe
— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) January 8, 2026
▶ LeVert returns: The Pistons received one positive news, as Caris LeVert returned to the lineup after missing the last four games due to inflammation in his right knee. he played 11 minutes, finishing with five points, three assists and two blocks. LeVert’s highlight of the night came at the end of the third quarter when he made a 3-point field goal, bringing the Pistons within one point (77-76) as they headed into the fourth quarter.
▶ Ivey receives first start of the season: Cunningham’s absence left a vacancy in the backcourt. Unlike the last three games Cunningham missed due to injury, Bickerstaff started Jaden Ivey instead of Jenkins. It marked Ivey’s first start of the season and his first since the broken left fibula he sustained 371 days ago. He played 19 minutes, finishing with eight points and four assists.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
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