Nets revisit scene of Pistons’ largest win in franchise annals
The Detroit Pistons will try to avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season on Saturday. The good news is that the tanking Brooklyn Nets are coming to town.
The Eastern Conference leaders lost Tuesday at Cleveland and Thursday at San Antonio. The Pistons never had a lead against the Spurs in a game dominated by third-year big man Victor Wembanyama. He controlled the lane with 38 points, 16 rebounds and five blocks.
"When they are making shots, especially to start the game, they are difficult to guard," said Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff. "This is a great opportunity for us to learn when playing teams of this caliber. It is a good opportunity for us to test ourselves and learn what we need to learn. That is what this is for us."
Pistons guard Cade Cunningham led his team with 26 points and eight assists, but fellow All-Star Jalen Duren only played 12 minutes due to foul trouble. More concerning was the loss of starting forward Ausar Thompson, who rolled his right ankle in the first quarter and did not return.
He's been ruled out for Saturday's game.
"Ausar means a lot to us," Bickerstaff said. "What he is able to do defensively and the impact that he has, you missed. We just had to figure out a way to pick it up collectively. I thought we did it at times. But again, when you allow them to score 38 (first-quarter) points to start the game, it is not going to be an easy night."
Detroit has lost consecutive games on just three occasions this season. Prior to this week, the most recent mini-losing streak came against Utah and the Los Angeles Clippers in late December.
The Pistons have won five straight against Brooklyn, including a pair of blowouts this season. They notched a 125-107 road win on Nov. 7 and a 130-77 thumping at home on Feb. 1. The latter was the largest margin of victory in franchise history.
The Nets are doing their best to maximize their chances for a high lottery pick. They've lost 10 straight to tie Indiana for the league's second-worst record pending the Pacers' Friday night visit to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The last two losses in Brooklyn's streak came in Miami, where the Heat won 124-98 on Tuesday and 126-110 on Thursday.
Coach Jordi Fernandez called out his starters after the first loss. He felt his team was sharper on Thursday.
"Today, we got better," he said. "Obviously, not what we wanted, coming out with a loss. But a lot of good things, starting out with the first group, the way they competed, and that's what I like to see. When we put two groups together, then good things are going to happen and I think we're taking those right steps."
The Nets will now try to erase the embarrassment they felt after their last trip to Detroit.
"Just go get the next one," Fernandez said. "(Friday), we're going to work. We're going to watch film. The environment is going to be positive. We're going to get our work done, get one percent better and go and compete against Detroit and the next game and the next game."