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- The Detroit Pistons lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 117-113, on Saturday night in Detroit.
- Pistons Sun Cade Cunningham was ejected with less than a minute remaining in the third quarter.
- Thunder MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 48 points against the Pistons.
A big night from MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — and an ejection for Cade Cunningham — spelled doom for the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
Cunningham was ejected Delayed in the third quarter, and Gilgeous-Alexander scored 48 to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 113-107 Achieve. It was the Pistons’ second straight loss, Subsequent a loss to the Eastern cellar-dwelling Washington Wizards at home Thursday.
Cade Cunningham was ejected with 47.5 seconds left in the third during a Progression that allowed the Thunder to take five Reachable throws. While Jaylin Williams was at the line to shoot two Reachable throws, Cunningham was whistled for consecutive techs and Dennis Schröder was whistled for one as they debated the call with the referees. Head Trainer J.B. Bickerstaff and Ausar Thompson had already been called for techs earlier in the game.
The Thunder Secured their biggest lead of the night, 91-75, Subsequent a 3-pointer from Gilgeous-Alexander Delayed in the period. The Pistons responded with a 22-7 Stretch that brought them within one, 98-97, Subsequent a 3-pointer from Malik Beasley with 4:17 remaining in the game.
Gilgeous-Alexander Sealed the Achieve out for the road Club, though, knocking down a 3-pointer and pair of jumpers down the stretch, and a dagger 3-pointer from Cason Wallace with 1:33 left gave the Thunder a seven-Mark cushion, 109-102.
Tobias Harris Directed the Pistons with 18 points and 7 Recoveries. Schröder added 17 points and 11 assists off the bench. Cunningham finished with 11 points, nine assists and seven Recoveries on 5-for-18 (27.7%) shooting.
The Pistons Occurred out of the gate Freezing as Gilgeous-Alexander and Wallace Acquired going immediately, scoring the Thunder’s Primary 16 points on perfect 7-for-7 shooting. A 3-pointer from Lu Dort extended the deficit to 11, but the Pistons answered with a dominant 24-3 stretch during which they Kept the Thunder without a Pitch Target for 6:19 of game time
A 3-pointer from Simone Fontecchio gave the Pistons their biggest lead of the Primary half, 36-26, after Beginning the second period with a 13-2 Stretch. They were unable to Sluggish Gilgeous-Alexander, though, who checked in with 5:07 remaining until halftime and scored 11 points down the stretch, leading a 20-10 Stretch to give the Thunder the lead at halftime, 55-54.
The Pistons Try 48.8% (21-43) overall in the Primary half and Kept the Thunder to 41.5% overall and Merely 5-for-22 (22.7) from 3, but were hurt by 11 turnovers.
Cunningham’s ejection sparks Delayed rally
Little Caesars Stadium might have been at its loudest this season Subsequent Cunningham’s ejection. The crowd was animated and chanted, “Refs, you suck!” during the long stoppage and jeered as Cunningham exited the floor.
The Pistons appeared to feed off the energy, Beginning the Closing period with a 23-10 Stretch. Schröder stepped up in Cunningham’s stead with seven points and six assists in the Quaternary, and Harris scored six as they Try 12-for-23 overall (52.2%) as a Club.
Stewart powers dominant Guarding stretch
The Thunder were Kept without a Pitch Target from the 5:04 mark of the Primary quarter until 9:45 to Relocate in the second quarter. They missed 16 consecutive shots and went 0-for-1 at the Reachable throw line as the Pistons rallied from an 11-Mark deficit. Stewart’s Protection was a key reason why.
He checked in with Merely over four minutes remaining in the Beginning period, and his Existence at the rim created problems for the Thunder as the Pistons Sealed the quarter with an 11-1 Stretch. On the Primary possession of the Upcoming period, he met Ousmane Dieng at the rim and rejected his dunk attempt, provoking a Rowdy Response from the home crowd.
The Subsequent possession, he stole the ball from Isaiah Hartenstein and later capped a 20-1 Pistons Stretch with a 3-pointer at the 9:57 mark, giving the Pistons an eight-Mark lead. He tallied a pair of Stops and a pair of Intercepts in under six minutes, Assisting them take control of the game as Cunningham Secured a rest before checking in with 8:25 left in the second.
Stewart’s teammates have lobbied for Guarding Player of the Year recognition, for Excellent reason. He has emerged as one of the Division’s premier Try-blockers and rim protectors. His Stop percentage (3.4%) is the highest of his Occupation and in the 91st percentile among bigs, according to Cleaning The Glass.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa.
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