Detroit — J.B. Bickerstaff has coached several players renowned for their defensive skills. He has worked alongside Dwight Howard as an assistant in Houston and later helped develop the talents of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley in Cleveland.

However, among the defensive specialists he has worked with, Ausar Thompson has stood out the most. Bickerstaff views Thompson as the “best complete defender” he has ever coached, given his ability to defend players at every position.

Thompson’s defensive attributes were on display Saturday night during the Detroit Pistons’ 112-86 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at Little Caesars Arena.

“This is who he is. We’ve preached that before. It’s genuine. He’s one of the best perimeter defenders in the league,” Bickerstaff said. “He can take on so many different matchups and be so disruptive. It’s natural instincts, ability, and IQ. A lot of shutdowns, I thought he was great on that end of the floor.”

“It’s very rare that you can find a guy that is that disruptive at the point of attack.” 

Bickerstaff speaks on Ausar Thompson’s defensive versatility and why the third-year forward is the best complete defender he has ever coached. #Pistons pic.twitter.com/OHi17wHorF

— Coty M. Davis (@CotyDavis_24) November 24, 2025

Thompson finished the game with four blocks and three steals, to go along with 14 points and four rebounds. He was the primary defender against the Hornets’ LaMelo Ball. He was vital in Ball having one of his most inefficient performances of the season, limiting the All-Star guard to eight points on 3-of-14 shooting before eventually fouling out in the fourth quarter. Ball started the game shooting 2-of-2 from the field. He shot 1-of-12 for the remainder of the game.

The Pistons have built their identity around defense since their resurgence started last season. Against the Hornets, the Pistons finished with 16 steals and 10 blocks. Most of their defensive production came during the fourth quarter, when they held Charlotte to 6-of-21 shooting. Isaiah Stewart added to Detroit’s defense, notching 11 rebounds and three blocks.

“That’s what we try to prioritize,” Bickerstaff said. “Obviously, [Charlotte] is a really good offensive team. They’ve got weapons all over the floor. They can shoot the 3, and they’ve got guys that can beat you off the bounce playing in transition.

Bickerstaff continued, “So, 14 [points] in the fourth and 18 [points] in the second shows what we’re capable of. That triggers everything for us, especially nights when shots aren’t falling for us. We got to get those stops to get out in transition and get some easy [baskets].”

BOX SCORE: Pistons 112, Hornets 86

With the victory, the Pistons improved to 22-6 on the season. Cade Cunningham recorded his third triple-double of the year with 22 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Jalen Duren notched his 15th double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Tobias Harris added 16 points on 5-of-8 shooting and five rebounds.

Miles Bridges and Kon Knueppel led the Hornets with 19 points each. Brandon Miller contributed 14 points and seven rebounds.

Observations and notes

▶ Robinson returns following injury scare: Before the Pistons’ final home game of 2025, there were concerns about Duncan Robinson’s status. Coach Bickerstaff announced that Robinson had bumped knees with an opponent against the Dallas Mavericks, resulting in a contusion on his left knee. He had to leave the game at the beginning of the third quarter and did not return Thursday night.

However, two nights later, the injury did not keep Robinson out of action. He returned to the lineup against the Hornets, finishing with 15 points, 10 of which came in the third quarter. Robinson’s best moment of the game occurred with 9:16 left in the fourth quarter when his steal led to an easy two-handed dunk, which extended Detroit’s lead to double digits.

▶ Another subpar shooting performance: Despite holding the league’s second-best record, the Pistons still have a handful of issues that may prevent them from reaching their championship goals. Shooting has been a major problem. Against the Hornets, it was another subpar night from the field, as they finished 6-for-28 from behind the arc. The inconsistent production led to the Hornets closing the third quarter on an 18-5 run, which erased Detroit’s once 20-point lead.

coty.davis@detroitnews.com

@cotydavis_24