2024-01-20

Detroit Pistons lose thriller to Bucks, but might have found something with new-look bench

Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press

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The Detroit Pistons, down two starters including their franchise player, were outmatched Saturday afternoon against a healthy Milwaukee Bucks team. It was a competitive game, with 15 lead changes and five ties. But the better team prevailed in the end.

The Pistons lost, 141-135, at Little Caesars Arena despite knocking down 21 of 36 3-point attempts to set season-highs in makes and percentage (56.8%). It was a big night for the Pistons’ second unit, as Alec Burks (33 points) and Mike Muscala (13 points) combined to hit 11 of their 18 3-point attempts. Ausar Thompson also had one of his best games of the season with a career-high 22 points and nine rebounds.

The Pistons’ 85 bench points are the most by any NBA team in a game this season.

Bojan Bogdanovic (19 points) and Jaden Ivey (18 points, six rebounds, six assists) also reached double figures for the Pistons (4-38).

The Bucks (29-13) were led by Damian Lillard (45 points, 11 assists) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (31 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists), who needed big performances to put the Pistons away. Rather than “sell the team” chants, the Pistons got an ovation as the final buzzer sounded in the first game of the season’s second half.

“Guys play really hard here, and it’s an honor to be a part of that," Muscala said. “It was a good game today, we just couldn’t get it done, especially on defense. We get a chance to play them again on Monday, and obviously they’re a great team. They have a lot of weapons on offense, but I thought we battled hard today.”

The Pistons were without Cade Cunningham, who missed his sixth straight game with a left knee strain, and Isaiah Stewart, who suffered a left ankle sprain during Wednesday’s loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kevin Knox II started in Stewart’s place.

The Pistons and Bucks rematch Monday night at LCA.

Muscala, Burks and Thompson spark second unit

In his second game with the Pistons, Muscala helped lead a 21-9 run late in the first quarter that put them in control for most of the remaining half. The veteran big man knocked down two 3-pointers within his first minute of action for his first points with his new team. Burks took off from there, knocking down three 3-pointers before the end of the quarter to give Detroit the lead, 38-34, heading into the second.

Muscala has found quick chemistry with the Pistons’ second unit, which also consisted of Burks, Thompson, Marcus Sasser and Danilo Gallinari. Thompson seemed to mesh particularly well alongside the 32-year-old, making up for Muscala’s rebounding deficiencies and attacking the space provided with Muscala at center. Thompson also knocked down two 3-pointers, the second game of his career with more than one make. He entered the game an NBA-worst 9-for-69 on 3s (13%).

Milwaukee used a 28-9 run to take an 11-point lead midway through the third quarter, during which Detroit shot just 8-for-23 (34.8%). Burks’ fifth 3-pointer of the night brought the Pistons back within five, though, trailing 103-98 heading into the final period. Muscala proceeded to hit a pair of 3s early in the fourth, giving the Pistons the lead again, 106-105, to cap an 18-10 run.

“Ausar coming off the bench and knocking down shots was huge for his confidence and huge for the development of our young group,” Pistons coach Monty Williams said. “Having Gallinari and Mike out there, they’re seamlessly fitting in and figuring out how we play. Burks has been phenomenal. His ability to score the ball, his ability to communicate and help the young guys on the floor have helped us a ton. You don’t typically get that kind of bench production, but with the vets we have coming off the bench, it certainly helps us.”

Ivey seizing opportunity with Cunningham out

No team wants to see their star go down. But for Williams and the Pistons, it has been an opportunity for their other highly touted young guard to showcase what he can do with the ball.

Williams only just recently started using Ivey, a second-team All-Rookie selection last season as the Pistons’ starting point guard, as an on-ball creator. The 2022 fifth overall pick began the season in an oddly limited role off the bench, and still mostly played off Cunningham as a starter the past month. After an organizational meeting last week, Williams finally embraced using Ivey’s speed and rim pressure as a primary creator.

In his five games without Cunningham entering Saturday, Ivey averaged 23 points, 6.2 assists (and three turnovers), 5.2 rebounds and a steal per game on 46.8% overall shooting. He had one of his best games Wednesday, scoring a season-high 32 points with six assists on 13-for-22 (59.1%) shooting.

But beyond his scoring, his improved effort and execution on defense has also been noteworthy. He didn’t shoot as well on Saturday (6-for-16), but led a third-quarter run that cut an 11-point deficit to two with two minutes left.

“It’s good to see him not just score the ball. Like I said he’s defending, attacking the basket, knocking down open shots,” Williams said pregame Saturday. “I think it’s going to be a good complement with those two playing together within the system. Jaden is a guy that has been resilient, allowed me to coach him hard and try to teach him our system, and then used his gifts and abilities to expand the system. I think he’s just beginning to grow into the player we drafted and that’s exciting to see. We have to turn all of that into winning. That’s a huge step for young players and young teams.”