The Pistons’ recent “road trip” to the West demonstrated to what extent JB Bickerstaff’s training has evolved. The Wolves were therefore warned before their night trip to Michigan, and Rudy Gobert’s teammates therefore saw, and were not able to do much to contain an unleashed Cunningham-Beasley-Harris trio and avoid a third consecutive defeat, despite Anthony Edwards’ mammoth match.
Cade Cunningham and Ausar Thompson put on a show by scoring 15 of Detroit’s first 19 points, adding style as a bonus, like the Thompson twin’s crazy flights (19-15). After two 3-point baskets from Malik Beasley to get going in his turn, Cade Cunningham completed the first act with a basket at the buzzer (33-28).
But it was in the second quarter that the Wolves drank for good, with once again the Cunningham-Beasley-Thompson trio to fuel a 13-0 (46-28)! Anthony Edwards’ three 3-point baskets before the break barely allowed Minnesota to stay in the lead at halftime (55-43).
As soon as the two teams returned to the floor, the trend was confirmed in favor of the Pistons. With this time Tobias Harris and Tim Hardaway Jr. in the role of lieutenants of a still hot Cade Cunningham, notably to contribute to the 14-2 which immediately pushed the Wolves back 21 lengths (69-48).
The rest was much more indecisive, since we had to resist an Anthony Edwards who was determined to bring his team back into the match and who multiplied his exploits.
But the Wolves back found someone to talk to on his way to the end, from Isaiah Stewart at the end of the third quarter (96-81) to the Beasley-Holland II-Harris trio in the last act, all framed by an exceptional Cade Cunningham until the end to stay the course and allow the Pistons to win 119-105.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
– The Pistons on the right track. The trigger has been a long time coming but it may well be finally happening in Detroit, which has just had six wins in its last seven games, with renowned opponents hanging on to its target. We also have to go back to March 2019 to find traces of such a series for the Pistons. It’s quite the opposite for the Wolves, who flew through the 2023/24 regular season to find themselves today with a balance sheet barely in balance…
– Cade Cunningham eclipsed Anthony Edwards. History will remember that it was in Detroit that Anthony Edwards achieved his career best (for now!) with 53 points fueled by a superb 10/15 3-point shot. But what we will have to remember about this match is the way in which Detroit dominated Minnesota, practically from start to finish, and then knew how to resist until the end to avoid a “money-time” suspenseful. And the great architect of this success is called Cade Cunningham, who was at the origin of the good start of the Pistons and who was above all present to fuel the brand and his teammates until the end.
– Hello from Malik Beasley. X factor of the meeting on the Detroit side with his 23 points, the former Wolves shooter was happy to return to the franchise in which he spent a little more than two seasons, from 2019 to 2022 before leaving to make place for Anthony Edwards. The shooting guard had a blast, with some good basketball, but also some training sessions and lively exchanges with the opposing bench.
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How to read the stats? Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; O = offensive rebound; D=defensive rebound; T = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; +/- = Point differential when the player is on the field; Pts = Points; Eval: player evaluation calculated from positive actions – negative actions.
