Detroit Pistons: Ranking their 10 wins in the first half of the season
By Ethan Wolfe
Detroit Pistons: Ranking the ten first-half wins
5. February 12: Pistons 108, Celtics 102
Against all odds, Detroit had Boston’s number this season. Perhaps that is why, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, that the Celtics have expressed in an interest in trading for Grant.
But this game in particular wasn’t about Grant. It was the Saddiq Bey Welcome Party.
The rookie out of Villanova came out guns blazing to rack up 30 points thanks to perfect 7-for-7 shooting from 3-point land. The performance highlighted a banner week that culminated in Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors.
4. March 3: Pistons 129, Raptors 105
Conventional wisdom would suggest this game would be a snooze fest.
Due to health and safety protocols, Toronto was without coach Nick Nurse as well as Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Fred VanVleet. Detroit, for its own misfortune, was absent Jerami Grant and Josh Jackson (among many others).
But this game was the opposite of a snooze fest.
The Pistons hit 20 three-pointers, eight courtesy of Wayne Ellington. They also had 40 assists, their most since 2008.
Dennis Smith Jr. and Plumlee both had triple-doubles, the first Pistons to do so in the same game since 1964.
Saben Lee notched a 20-7-4 line and Rodney McGruder recorded 20-6-3.
The Pistons showcased a blistering offense from unlikely sources to earn a win over a solid Raptors team.
3. January 1: Pistons 96, Celtics 93
The first win of the season had to be towards the top of the rankings. Especially when it happened on New Year’s Day, no less.
Given the poor performances in its first four losses, it looked like Detroit was in no position to win for over a month into the season.
An upset win over the Celtics put the kibosh on that.
The Pistons were close to blowing a 22-point lead, but narrowly escaped thanks to clutch free throws from Bey in the final 30 seconds of regulation.
It wasn’t a pretty win, but it was exciting enough and showed that Detroit wasn’t going to be the NBA’s doormat.