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Luke Kennard shines in first playoff action with Pistons

By Ryan Love

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 14: Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons is defended by Nikola Mirotic #41 of the Milwaukee Bucks during Game One of the first round of the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Fiserv Forum on April 14, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 14: Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons is defended by Nikola Mirotic #41 of the Milwaukee Bucks during Game One of the first round of the 2019 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at Fiserv Forum on April 14, 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Despite the 35-point drubbing the Detroit Pistons took from the Bucks Sunday night, Luke Kennard had as good a first playoff game as the team can hope for out of their former first-round pick.

The Detroit Pistons took a beating at the hands of the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs Sunday night. The Pistons will hope to forget all but one shining glimmer of hope in the 121-86 Game 1 loss — the performance of Luke Kennard.

Sunday’s game felt over before it began when it was announced that All-Star forward Blake Griffin would be out for the night dealing with knee soreness that may keep him out the rest of the series. The Bucks ran out to a 20-point lead after the first quarter and there was no looking back.

However, Pistons fans — several of whom have been fighting the Kennard fight for a long time — can hold their heads high after the former first-round pick scored 21 of the team’s 86 points in his playoff debut.

More. Luke Kennard is the “x-factor” in the playoffs for the Detroit Pistons. light

The Pistons struggled to score without Griffin and the bench gave them nothing outside of Kennard. His 21 points led all Pistons and finished second behind Giannis Antetokounmpo‘s 24 for the game-high.

In 27 minutes off the bench, Kennard made four of five three-pointer shots and shot 57 percent from the floor altogether. The rest of the Pistons’ shooters went 4-for-22 from beyond the arc.

The most important part of Kennard’s performance is his return to the aggressiveness that seemed to have eluded him before his 27-point game against the Knicks to end the regular season. The Bucks all but put the Pistons away by the 4th quarter but that would not stop Kennard from keeping his finger on the trigger:

Game 2 on Wednesday could find Kennard getting more action after reports came out late Sunday night that Blake Griffin might not return for the rest of the series. It would not be out of the question at that point to give up 30-35 minutes for Kennard.

Detroit will once again be scraping and clawing for points — and Kennard is the only one willing to provide them early this series.

dark. Next. Drummond should guard Giannis

Fox Sports Detroit’s Johnny Kane talked to Kennard after Sunday’s loss:

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