Detroit Pistons: 5 best scoring performances in franchise history

If we are looking at the best games in Detroit Pistons history there are a lot to choose from.

We could definitely pick one of Grant Hill‘s triple doubles, or one of Chauncey Billups’ big playoff games or even one of Ben Wallace’s performances where he barely scored any points but dominated the game with rebounding and defense.

But today we’re looking at the top scoring performances in team history and there are five that stand out.

What’s amazing about just about all of these is that they were accomplished without the benefit of many 3-point shots, which almost seems impossible the way the modern game is played.

Here are five times when someone on the Detroit Pistons dropped a 50-spot on an opponent, and the fact that they were all done against Eastern Conference rivals makes it even sweeter.

Detroit Pistons: Blake Griffin scores 50 against the Philadelphia 76ers

October 24,2018

This is the most recent entry and one that most fans probably remember, as it was during the last season that Blake Griffin was actually good.

Griffin pretty much wrecked his body in 2018, including in this game, where he carried the Pistons to an overtime victory over the 76ers, scoring 50 points in the process, including the game winner and free throw that followed:

Griffin added 14 rebounds in the win on the way to having his best overall season in the league.

Blake’s time in Detroit didn’t end as we’d hoped but for this one season he was amazing, especially in this game.

Detroit Pistons: Richard Hamilton nets an old school 51 points vs. the Knicks

December 27, 2006

Madison Square Garden has seen its fair share of amazing performances over the years, but rarely one as good as Richard Hamilton dropping 51 points in 2006.

What made this so special was that Hamilton did it while only shooting one 3-point shot the entire game.

He went 19-of-37 from the field that night and 12-for-12 from the free-throw line on his way to 51 points in front of the stunned Knicks’ fans.

I can say with some certainty that we may never see a guy score 51 points again while only hitting one 3-point shot.

Detroit Pistons: Dave Bing notches 54 points against the Chicago Bulls

February 21, 1971

Pistons’ legendary guard Dave Bing was another guy who had a huge night without the benefit of the 3-point shot.

Bing put up 54 points in 1971 against the Chicago Bulls, going 22-of-38 from the field and 10-for-10 from the free-throw line.

The Bulls actually won this game behind 27 points from Chet Walker (shoutout to the Bradley Braves!) but it was Bing who went down in history.

Bing was one of the best Pistons of all time and it’s hard to imagine a guard going for 54 points without even shooting a 3-point shot.

Detroit Pistons: Kelly Tripucka scores 56 on the Chicago Bulls

January 29, 1983

Kelly Tripucka is not a name a lot of young fans know, but he was truly one of the best Pistons’ scorers of all time in addition to having one of the greatest hairdos of his generation (look him up).

Tripucka was part of the Pistons’ best draft, as Detroit got both he and Isiah Thomas in the same year.

This was another game accomplished without the benefit of the 3-point shot, as Tripucka went 18-of-26 from the floor and an eye-popping 20-for-22 from the free-throw line.

Tripucka only played five seasons in Detroit but made the All-Star team twice and had some of their best scoring seasons of all time.

Detroit Pistons: Jerry Stackhouse goes off against the Bulls and sets the record

April 3, 2001

The top scoring game of all time for the Detroit Pistons is currently held by Jerry Stackhouse, a guy who came over in one of the best trades in team history with the 76ers.

People forget just how good Stackhouse was this season, as he averaged just under 30 points per game and narrowly missed winning the scoring title.

It’s great that the top-3 scoring performances of all time are against the hated Bulls, who did plenty of damage to the Pistons over the years themselves.

Stack went off on this night in a blowout win, scoring 57 points while only making four 3-point shots and going 21-of-36 from the field.

People used to refer to Stackhouse as “The Next Jordan” and he lived up to it on this night, doing his best MJ impression while setting the Pistons all-time record on the Bulls.