The Detroit Pistons got out to a solid start but struggled to withstand the New York Knicks’ defense midway through the third quarter. The Knicks (3-0) took advantage of the Pistons’ changing of the units halfway through the third quarter to cut an eight-point lead to eventually beat Detroit 108-100.
Things turned south when the Pistons (1-2) returned from halftime despite the starting unit getting Detroit out to its largest lead of the night. Julius Randle capitalized with the Pistons reserves on the court, scoring 16 points in the third quarter.
Jerami Grant and the Pistons had largely held Randle at bay, limiting the 2020-21 Most Improved Player to just six points at the half. He accounted for more than half of the Knicks’ points in the third, as they finished the frame on an 18-5 run.
Randle ended the night with 29 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
Grant’s defense continued to shine, but he had another solid offensive night. He scored 18 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field. He continued to test his skills from distance, making two of his six shot attempts from distance. One of those tries netted him a few trips to the line where he made four of his five attempts from the stripe.
Wednesday’s loss comes after the Pistons showed plenty of resilience in bouncing back from a 25-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday. Detroit was also without Cade Cunningham, Killian Hayes and Saddiq Bey, who left Monday’s game prior to the half.
Despite the Pistons coming into Wednesday night shorthanded, they started off the action with intensity. They got back quickly in transition to contest shots and outrebounded the Knicks 18-11 by the end of the first quarter.
It helped that the Pistons competed exactly as head coach Dwane Casey has asked for. Detroit also played much more under control in the first half having just five fouls as a team in the first half compared to the Knicks’ 13.
Detroit took advantage of the line going 12-of-16 on their free throws. Plus they had plenty of help from Saben Lee from long range after the second-year guard made all three of his shots from distance in the first half.
Lee pushed the tempo, just as Casey said he expected the second-year guard to. The Vanderbilt product ended the night with 14 points after making all four of his shots from distance. He had two rebounds and four assists, as well as one steal by the end of the night.
Casey wanted his team to go after the 50-50 balls, which they did through the first half of Wednesday’s game. He also wanted his team to be better at rebounding as a whole so that the pressure did not fall on the shoulders of the team’s centers. That was highlighted with Frank Jackson’s seven rebounds through the first half.
Frank Jackson, who has been heralded for the instant offense he gives the Pistons quietly got nine points after drawing some of the Knicks defenders into fouls on his shot attempts from three.
He had plenty of help from Josh Jackson, who continued to show his offseason growth. The fifth-year wing has been praised for his improved decision-making and continued to show his willingness to make the extra pass.
Josh Jackson ended the night with eight points, five rebounds, four assists and one block to help get the Pistons ahead before intermission.
The Pistons conclude their preseason with a return to Little Caesars Arena where they will host the Philadelphia 76ers.
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