On Saturday night, the Pistons beat the Bucks for the first time in 14 tries, which ends their longest active losing streak against a single team. It was a game full of milestones, including Jaden Ivey's return from injury for the first time in almost a full year. The Pistons have now won 12 straight and firmly established themselves as contenders in the Eastern Conference.
The East is starting to take notice
It was a great all-around game for the Pistons led by superstar Cade Cunningham. Cade finished with a dominant 29 points, 8 rebounds and 10 assists to lead all players in all three categories. However, he did not have to overextend himself en route to his impressive statline and instead was able to rely on other Pistons to initiate plays at times.
The Pistons once again showed the strength of their defense and suffocated the Bucks while building up a big lead. Yes, the Bucks were without superstar and perennial MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the Pistons' dominance was still a marvel to behold. Early in the game, the Bucks could hardly even dribble the ball up the court or get a shot off against the Pistons starters.
And on their own basket, the Pistons were scorching hot. They shot 63% from the field and, even more surprisingly, 53% from three. Just about every player, whether it was a starter or one of the 7 bench players who received minutes, was on fire and knocking down shots. It was a rare shooting display for the Pistons, but another reminder of how dangerous they can be when things are clicking.
With Ivey back in the lineup, the Pistons offense may soon elevate to higher levels. His slashing ability as one of the league's fastest players can create plenty of easy opportunities for himself and teammates. Combined with the Pistons' always stellar defense, it will be a truly scary proposition for other teams in the East. As it currently stands, the Pistons are 14-2 and haven't lost in nearly a month. But they know they can be even better as they get healthier.
The Pistons' start to the season has already been remarkable, and they're still building on it. Beating the Bucks for the first time in over 3 years proves that the Pistons are entering a completely new era of Detroit basketball. The team is playing perfectly in a way that captures the essence of the franchise and the city of Detroit. With this win, the Pistons are officially back and the other 14 teams in the Eastern Conference should be on high alert.