MINNEAPOLIS – A strong defensive performance allowed the Detroit Pistons to overcome their offensive mistakes.
They blew out the Minnesota Timberwolves, 109-87, to improve to 54-20 on Saturday, March 28. The Pistons held the Wolves to just 31.8% shooting, the second-lowest percentage of any of their opponents this season. Saturday also marked their fifth time holding an opponent below 90 points. It allowed them to overcome 20 turnovers, as they only gave up seven Minnesota points scored off of them.
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“I thought we did a really good job,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Nothing came easy for them. Most of the shots were contested, the shots that we’ll live with. I thought we communicated well, we were physical. I thought we did a great job defensively overall.”
They were led by Tobias Harris, who scored 18 points on 7-for-10 shooting. Daniss Jenkins added 13 points and eight assists, and Ron Holland also scored 13 and blocked two shots while knocking down a pair of 3-pointers.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) works around Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
BIG DEAL: Kevin Huerter finally delivering value for Detroit Pistons after trade
The victory matched the Pistons’ fourth-best total in franchise history and stretched their lead over the Boston Celtics (who were idle Saturday) for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference to 4½ games. The Pistons have already clinched the playoffs as well as homecourt in the first round; they dropped their “magic number” to clinch the East’s top spot to four (any combination of Pistons wins and Celtics losses). The Pistons are also on the brink of clinching their first Central Division title since 2007-08 (which was also the last time they won a playoff series); they’re eight games up on the Cavs with eight to play (with a tiebreaker undecided). One Pistons win or Cavs loss will clinch the Central.
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Next up for the Pistons
Unfortunately for the Pistons, their next foe is no easy task; Detroit heads to Oklahoma City on Monday (9:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit/ESPN) to take on the Western Conference leaders (and defenduig champs). The Pistons beat the Thunder in Detroit back in late February.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff reacts during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff reacts during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) works around Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) and Detroit Pistons forward Paul Reed (7) compete for the ball during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson (12) works around Detroit Pistons guard Kevin Huerter (27) during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves center Naz Reid (11) works around Detroit Pistons guard Javonte Green (31) during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) shoots over Detroit Pistons forward Ronald Holland II (5) during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) shoots over Detroit Pistons guard Kevin Huerter (27) during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) works around Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) works around Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley (10) works around Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Donte DiVincenzo (0) reacts during the first half against the Detroit Pistons at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
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Detroit Pistons challenge West-contending Minnesota Timberwolves
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Bones Hyland (8) works around Detroit Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Detroit Pistons injury update
The Pistons were without Cade Cunningham (left lung pneumothorax) for the sixth straight game and Isaiah Stewart (left calf strain) for the eighth game in a row. But they got good news regarding Stewart before the game – the big man has returned to on-court work and is preparing for his return.
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Duncan Robinson (right hip strain) returned from a one-game absence. Minnesota was without superstar guard Anthony Edwards (right knee pain), Jaden McDaniels (right knee soreness) and Ayo Dosunmu (right calf soreness).
Early start, late woes
Jalen Duren (10 points, 13 rebounds and five assists) picked up two early fouls and checked out with 8:50 remaining in the first quarter. It was a relatively quiet game for the star big in a tough matchup against Rudy Gobert, but the Pistons got off to a hot start, knocking down 59.1% of their attempts in the first and leading by 13 early in the second. The offense went flat after – they scored just 16 points while committing eight turnovers in the second quarter.
Defense allowed them to carry a 49-44 lead into halftime, holding the Wolves to 34% shooting in the first half. The Pistons’ offense perked back up in the third, with a corner 3-pointer from Holland extending their lead to 14, 69-55, at the 3:20 mark. A 3-pointer from Holland to open the fourth pushed it to 17, and another 3 from Javonte Green with under two minutes left gave them their biggest lead of the game, 107-83.
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“I think it was really solid,” Harris said of their defense. “Could’ve been even better if we weren’t giving up the basketball so many times. I just thought we were locked in, knew what type of style they wanted to play and areas that we were willing to be comfortable with and live with. Just take away some different actions that they have.”
Win helps Pistons’ draft position
Thanks to their Feb. 3 trade for Kevin Huerter, Saturday’s outcome could help them get a better pick in the 2026 draft.
The Pistons acquired a pick swap from the Wolves in the three-team deal, which also involved the Chicago Bulls. It means the Pistons have the option to swap first-round picks with the Wolves on draft night in June, which is a certainty with the Pistons having nine more wins than the Wolves with eight games remaining for both teams.
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Entering Saturday, the Pistons had the third-best record in the league and the 28th pick in the draft, and the Wolves were 22nd. The swap is top-19 protected, meaning the Pistons can swap for it as long as it’s 20 or lower. The Atlanta Hawks and Toronto Raptors, who are 19th and 20th in the draft order, each have 41 wins. It’s unlikely that Minnesota will fall down the standings far enough for the Pistons to lose the pick swap.
Tobias Harris continues March hot streak
Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle (30) works around Detroit Pistons forward Tobias Harris (12) during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Entering Saturday, the veteran power forward was averaging 14.1 points per game in March on 49.4% shooting, a significant increase over his season mark of 45.8%. He’s also posting 2.9 assists and 0.8 turnovers per game this month and has thrived as a playmaker. In the six games since Cunningham went out, Harris is averaging about five assists.
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He sparked the Pistons’ offense early in Minnesota, scoring their first eight points and finishing the first quarter with 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Watch our podcast, “The Pistons Pulse,” discuss the Cade Cunningham injury fallout, the playoff chase and more:
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons chop down Minnesota Timberwolves