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Detroit Pistons strong start carries them past New Orleans

By Travis Gibbs

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Henry Ellenson #8 and Bruce Brown #6 of the Detroit Pistons high five during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Henry Ellenson #8 and Bruce Brown #6 of the Detroit Pistons high five during the game against the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2018 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2018 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons /

The Detroit Pistons get out of their shooting slump and get their first win of the 2018 summer league over the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Detroit Pistons picked up their first win in summer league action with a 105-97 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans.

They did it with Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson, and many others in attendance.

Henry Ellenson led the way with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists. Khryi Thomas had 12 points to compliment the attack.

Detroit got off to a fast start and that’s what made the difference. Let’s take a look at the game recap.

Detroit Pistons have a strong first half

The Pistons got off to a much needed hot start after struggling offensively throughout the first two games last weekend. The first quarter for the Detroit Pistons was the best they had to this point in the 2018 summer league.

They shot 11 of 15 as a team in the first quarter and got off to a 33-22 lead over the Pelicans. Ellenson led the Pistons with nine points and had four rebounds in the first quarter.

The second quarter was much of the same. Eric Griffin was a surprise during this time. He had a sequence where he hit a three, blocked a shot, and dunked the ball in transition.

Khyri Thomas continued to quietly impress as he did throughout the weekend. He kept shooting the ball well from outside and putting his teammates in good position to get easy points.

The Pistons finished the first half shooting 71 percent from the field and 61 percent from three-point range.

Defensively, they still struggled. New Orleans respectively had a good first half offensively in what was a track meet. They shot 50 percent from the field and 42 percent from deep.

The Pistons took a 61-46 lead going into halftime.

Pistons continue their dominance

A lot of great passing and smart shot selection led to the Pistons running away with the game in the third quarter. They continued to push the tempo and thrive at getting to the basket.

That in turn gave a lot of players wide open looks at three-point attempts.

Ellenson continued to impress. Through three quarters, he had 11 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.

The Detroit Pistons held an 82-62 lead going into the last quarter. At this point, everyone on the team had scored. That speaks volumes about their ball movement and shot selection throughout the course of this game.

The Pelicans reserves clawed back and made it a nine-point game at late in the fourth quarter. Pistons summer league coach Sean Sweeney had to place his starters back in the game to hold off the threat by New Orleans.

Detroit was outscored 35-23 in the final quarter but came out on top 105 -97 in the end to get their first win of the summer league.

Next: Detroit Pistons: Three players to watch in the 2018 summer league

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