The Detroit Pistons will look to continue last season’s stellar performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Here’s a preview of this year’s series.
The Detroit Pistons had one of their best performances of the season against the Minnesota Timberwolves last year, and there’s reason to believe it will continue during the 2019-20 season.
Andre Drummond had a few remarkable moments, including a turnaround 3-pointer in overtime in Minnesota.
The Pistons won that game 129-123 after overcoming a 14-point deficit entering the fourth quarter. Detroit was a remarkable 20-for-48 (41.7 percent) from 3-point range and 48.9 percent from the floor overall. Blake Griffin had 34 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Reggie Bullock scored 33 points on 7-for-12 shooting from 3-point range.
Current Piston Derrick Rose got the start for an injured Jeff Teague and scored 33 points with some late heroics. Robert Covington scored 22 points on 5-of-11 3-point shooting and Karl-Anthony Towns added 16 points, eight rebounds and there blocks. But it was the Timberwolves bench, led by Dario Saric‘s 15-point, six-rebound performance that led Minnesota to a large lead.
Minnesota got off to a hot start in the return trip to Detroit, jumping out to a 35-22 lead after the first 12 minutes. But Detroit would roar back for a 133-114 win. Drummond was dominant with a 31-point, 15-rebound performance, which was needed with a widely inefficient starting five. The bench picked it up with Luke Kennard scoring 21 points and Ish Smith dropping 19 on 8-of-10 shooting.
Minnesota was without one of the league’s top defensive players, Robert Covington, and Rose. Towns 24 points on 7-of-14 shooting.
A lot has changed since the two teams met last March, and a lot had changed between the two meeting last season. Let’s dive in to the changes the Timberwolves made and how it impacts this year’s season series.