Detroit — The Pistons’ first possession of Sunday matinee against the New Orleans Pelicans foreshadowed an excruciating basketball experience for fans at Little Caesars Arena.
A completely new starting lineup started the game for Pistons coach Monty Williams. This was the 33rd starting combination of the season and for most of the game it looked like a group that had never played together before.
Detroit won the first tip and the ball hit the hands of all five players, but the group couldn’t execute a decent play before the shot clock expired – the first of nine turnovers in the first quarter. The Pistons’ new starting lineup of Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser, Troy Brown Jr., Chimezie Metu and James Wiseman did not have the proper spacing to take on the playoff-seeking Pelicans, leading to a loss 114-101 Sunday afternoon.
BOX SCORE: Pelicans 114, Pistons 101
The Pistons (12-59) scored a season-low 10 points in the first quarter. Pistons guard Cade Cunningham was a late scratch while dealing with a left knee injury. The third-year guard followed his pregame routine, but was likely ruled out of Sunday’s game as a precaution as it was the start of a back-to-back that ends Monday in New York.
“We just turned the ball over in the first quarter,” Williams said. “The ball wasn’t even sticky, we just played into the crowd. We moved it, but they’re so big that when you’re dribbling downhill with smaller guards and you don’t have a shot or pocket pass, you get swallowed up, and we turned it over so much in the first quarter. .
“It was a little different game as far as the level of competition. Our guys believed they could take the field with them. We gave ourselves a chance to compete. I get to where we are, but I wouldn’t be in this position if I gave in to any type of circumstances.
Pelicans forward Zion Williamson dominated the Pistons’ thin frontcourt and imposed his will inside with a game-high 36 points, seven rebounds and six assists. He forced his way into the paint on multiple occasions, going alley-oops, acrobatic lay-ups and emphatic dunks. His aggressiveness led to double-digit trips to the free throw line. He missed just one of his 14 field goals and made 10 of his 14 free throw attempts.
Without Jalen Duren, who missed his second straight game with lower back spasms, Williamson managed his way through the 36 minutes he spent on the court.
While Williamson dominated the Pistons inside the paint, New Orleans guard CJ McCollum proved lethal from beyond the arc. The veteran guard had 23 points and six assists while making five of nine attempts from the 3-point line.
Without Cunningham, Metu, the Pistons’ recent 10-day signee, shouldered the scoring load with 17 points and eight rebounds in his first start for the Pistons. Malachi Flynn had 17 points, four rebounds and four assists coming off the bench. Ivey finished with 16 points and four assists, but also accounted for the bulk of Detroit’s 17 turnovers with four giveaways. James Wiseman finished with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.
“It’s a matter of picking your spots,” Metu said of adjusting to a new team. “The first day I felt like I was a little too nervous and I tried to slow down my game a little and it hurt a little bit, especially since I didn’t have played for over a month. I’m trying to get in shape while adapting and playing with a new team. Over time, I’ve seen where I can attack more and I know what type of spacing the coaches want.
Pistons two-way guard Buddy Boeheim had his best game as a professional with a career-high 13 points to go with three rebounds and three assists coming off the bench. He made four of eight attempts, including a 3-of-7 from beyond the arc.
“It’s the funniest thing, man. The head coaches of the teams, you think they don’t know who Buddy Boeheim is,” Williams said. “As soon as he gets in the game and they start yelling, ‘Shooter! Shooter!’ He’s probably one of the few guys in the G League who’s stepped on the court and great NBA players are on him like you know what. It’s a testament to his reputation, but also a testament to his work ethic. work.
Detroit, desperate to end a six-game losing streak, will embark on a three-game road trip that will then feature a tricky route to New York, Minnesota and Washington, DC.
Pistons at the Knicks
Trick : 7:30 p.m. Monday, Madison Square Garden, New York
Television/radio: BSD/97.1
Outlook: The Pistons will look to end a six-game losing streak against the Knicks, which marks the start of a three-game road trip. New York, winner of seven of its last 10 games, is coming off a 105-93 victory against the Brooklyn Nets. The Pistons are suffering from injuries, but the Knicks are slightly healthier with only three players listed on the injury report. Julius Randle (dislocation of the right shoulder), OG Anunoby (management of right elbow injuries) and Mitchell Robinson (left ankle surgery) will not play in Monday’s game due to injury.
@MikeACurtis2
