The Detroit Pistons entered the 2026 NBA offseason with a clear directive: Improve their three-point shooting. Fresh off of ranking just above the very bottom of the NBA in three-point shooting volume, Detroit knew that it needed to get franchise players Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren help to properly support their preferred styles of play. They did exactly that.
If what was on display during the 2026-27 regular season opener is a sign of things to come, then it certainly seems as though the Pistons have made meaningful improvements to their three-point shooting.
Detroit trailed by as many as 22 points during the opener against the Boston Celtics, but came back to secure a tremendous 121-113 win. It was an all-hands-on-deck type of effort, as just about everyone played their part in erasing the deficit and securing the first victory of the year.
If there's only one phase of the game to fixate on, however, it'd be difficult to prioritize anything above the Pistons' three-point evolution.
Detroit finished the 2025-26 regular season ranked No. 29 in three-point field goal attempts at 30.8 per game. In the 2026-27 opener, however, they launched 40 threes and ended up at the free throw line on several occasions for fouls on attempts from beyond the arc.
Though returning starter Duncan Robinson led the three-point surge, it was the newfound depth in that department that kickstarted the effort to produce these remarkable results.
Pistons attempt 40 threes in 2026-27 opener; averaged 30.8 in 2025-26
Detroit attempted 14 threes within the first 18 minutes of the 2026-27 opener—nearly half of the 30.8 they averaged per full game in 2025-26. They struggled to bury those shots, as many players looked out of practice, but the strategy ultimately paid off.
Detroit shot 15-of-40 from beyond the arc, with returning contributors Robinson and Javonte Green combining for 10 conversions on their own.
What set the tone, however, was Isaiah Joe attempting seven threes in his regular season Pistons debut. Kevin Huerter attempted four of his own, while known non-shooter Ausar Thompson even showcased a willingness to get a triple up—even if it was a miss.
The result was Boston having to respect the three-point shot every time it was attempted and the likes of Cunningham, Duren, and Thompson being able to thrive closer to the rim.
Behind the impact of the three-point evolution the team has undergone, Detroit outscored Boston 76-55 during the second half. It also erased Paul George's monster night without needing Cunningham or Duren to go shot-for-shot with him.
If the Pistons can sustain this level of efficiency and volume moving forward, then their offense will evolve and a 60-win team will somehow improve.
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