J.B. Bickerstaff talks about Paul Reed’s 28 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in win against Chicago.
J.B. Bickerstaff talks about Paul Reed’s 28 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in win against Chicago.
Detroit — Paul Reed possesses exceptional talent, but he understands the importance of playing the role that best benefits the Detroit Pistons. This often leads to his talents being overlooked many nights, with his plus/minus number serving as the sole evidence of his on-court abilities.
But Wednesday night inside Little Caesars Arena, Reed’s talents were on full display, leading the Pistons to a 124-113 victory over the Chicago Bulls. He finished with a season-high 28 points, 13 rebounds, six assists, four steals and a block. His plus/minus was 26.
“He was impactful all over the floor,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He just did not want to disappoint, that’s all it came down to. He did not want to let his teammates down.”
The Pistons played with seven of their core players out. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren missed their first game of the season, joining Tobias Harris (ankle), Jaden Ivey (knee), Marcus Sasser (hip), Isaiah Stewart (ankle) and Ausar Thompson (ankle).
As a result of a hard fall late in the fourth quarter against the Washington Wizards, Cunningham sustained a left hip contusion. Bickerstaff shared that the All-Star guard is “improving,” but the fall caused some soreness.
Bickerstaff added that Duren suffered a right ankle sprain during the final play of regulation. Before Daniss Jenkins’ game-tying 3-point field goal, Duren rolled his ankle, which caused him to fall while setting screens for Duncan Robinson and Chaz Lanier.
The injuries left the Pistons significantly short-handed against the Bulls, but the team leaned on its character to extend its winning streak to eight. Detroit also improved to 10-2 on the season.
“That win tonight was 100 percent a character and identity win,” Bickerstaff said. “It speaks to the guys’ willingness to go out there and do things and go places that other people are not willing to go…Everybody found a way to step up and contribute.”
Jenkins followed up his career performance against the Wizards with 18 points and 11 assists. Duncan Robinson added 23 points on 7-of-10 shooting from behind the arc.
The Pistons established a 23-point lead midway through the third quarter. However, the Bulls made a strong comeback at the beginning of the fourth, narrowing the gap to just one point at 97-96. Despite the pressure, the Pistons managed to hold on and avoid a collapse in the final minutes. With 4:33 left in the period, Robinson’s sixth 3-point field goal of the night put the game out of reach.
Caris LeVert was the only player who returned to the lineup after missing the previous game, recording 17 points, five assists and two blocks.
“We came in hungry; everyone who was on the court tonight had something to prove,” Reed said. “We just wanted to prove that we can hold it down and play Pistons’ basketball.”
The Bulls, who remain with Josh Giddey and Coby White, were led by Matas Buzelis, who recorded 21 points and 13 rebounds. Kevin Huerter added 20.
“These are the fun [games]; I’ll be honest with you,” Bickerstaff said. “These are games that I do enjoy. When a lot of people say, ‘you can’t,’ the challenge of accepting that is always fun.”
Observations and notes
▶ Is Sasser’s minutes in jeopardy? Out of all the players sidelined due to injury, Marcus Sasser is the only one whose spot in the rotation might be in jeopardy. Jenkins has made the most of his opportunity, which could make it difficult for Bickerstaff to replace him once his team is fully healthy.
Sasser entered the season needing a strong start to establish consistency in Bickerstaff’s rotation. He had a chance to gain a larger role due to the vacancy the Pistons had for a backup behind Cunningham; however, a hip injury sustained during the preseason might keep him at the end of Bickerstaff’s lineup.
Over the last two games, Jenkins has averaged 21.0 points and 7.5 assists. He has not only put on a greater performance, but has also demonstrated that he can play the backup point guard role, perhaps better than Sasser.
“I just wanted to show consistency. I did not want it to be like, ‘Oh, he had just one good game,'” Jenkins said. “My teammates needed me to be me so we could win that game. That’s all I was trying to do.”
Best first half of the season? Despite their fast start to the season, subpar play during the first half has been the most significant issue surrounding the Pistons through the first 11 games. They entered the contest averaging 57.2 points on 45.5% shooting, 34.4% from 3-point range, with an offensive rating of 109.6, which produced the league’s sixth-worst offense in the first half.
Ironically, without seven of their core players, the Pistons put together their best first half of the season. With Robinson getting off to a hot start by accounting for three of the Pistons’ first four triples, Detroit shot 60.5% from the floor and 52.9% from 3-point range, which led to a 68-52 halftime lead. They led by as many as 16 during the half.
Staying true to their defensive identity: The Pistons remained committed to their defensive identity despite missing several key players. They recorded 13 steals against the Bulls. It forced Chicago into committing 21 turnovers, which led to 21 points.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
Coty Davis and Tarohn Finley talk about Cade Cunninghan and Jalen Duren of the 9-2 Pistons.
Coty Davis and Tarohn Finley talk about Cade Cunninghan and Jalen Duren of the 9-2 Pistons.
Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here.