Detroit Pistons run out of steam in road loss to New Orleans Pelicans, 104-98
The New Orleans Pelicans threatened to put the game away early when they took a 16-point lead early in the third quarter. But on the second night of a back-to-back, the Detroit Pistons showed resolve.
Strong performances from Saddiq Bey and Killian Hayes weren't enough, and the Pistons fell to the Pelicans in New Orleans, 106-98, on Wednesday. Bojan Bogdanovic was ejected with 9:13 to play in the third quarter after picking up a pair of technical fouls for uttering words in the direction of a referee. Trey Murphy hit two free throws to extend New Orleans' lead to 61-45. But the Pistons cut the deficit to four with 1:08 to play in the quarter, and stayed within an eight-point margin the rest of the way.
A 3-pointer from Bey with 19.4 seconds left cut the deficit to 100-97, but the shot was overruled to a 2-pointer after a video review revealed his foot on the line. Bey had one of his best games of the season with 25 points on 9-for-17 overall and 5-for-10 shooting from 3, and Hayes added 17 points, 11 assists, six rebounds and two steals. Jalen Duren added a double-double off of the bench with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Zion Williamson led all scorers with 29 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
Hayes shines as Pistons show tired legs
Hayes’ 22-point, eight-assist performance in last week’s 131-125 overtime win over the Dallas Mavericks — during which he scored 14 points in the final 17 minutes and two big 3-pointers to clinch the game in the final two — is the most memorable game of the young guard’s career. His performance against the Pelicans wasn’t as theatrical, but it was arguably just as important for his growth.
On a night where the Pistons appeared to be on the verge of getting blown out multiple times, Hayes did everything he could to give them a fighting chance. His best stretch came in the third quarter, when he scored or assisted 16 consecutive points to help the Pistons cut a 16-point deficit to six at the end of the period. The run included three 3-pointers by Bey and one by Jaden Ivey, a dunk for Duren and steal and dunk by Hayes.
It was one of Hayes’ best two-way performances from start to finish. He got the Pistons rolling early with a crossover midrange jumper and a steal and transition dunk to build an early 7-0 lead, and dished four of his 10 assists in the opening period. In the second quarter, he had a stretch where he made CJ McCollum travel after locking him down defensively, assisting Stewart for a 3-pointer and then got in the lane himself for a midrange shot to cut the deficit to two, 42-40.
Hayes’ final field goal was a clutch 3-pointer with 2:20 remaining in the fourth quarter that cut the deficit to three, 97-94. However, Hayes turned the ball over with 47 seconds left while trying to thread a difficult corner-to-corner pass to Bey. Bey did his part to give Detroit a fighting chance by knocking down a foot-on-the-line midrange jumper with 19.4 seconds left to cut the deficit to four. Despite the turnover, the Pistons were in the game largely because of Hayes’ heroics throughout the game.
Bey snaps slump from outside, thrives off bench
Wednesday was Bey’s best game in more than a month. It was his first time shooting better than 50% overall since he scored a season-high 28 points on 9-for-17 shooting in a win over the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 30. And his five made 3-pointers were his season high.
Bey caught fire in the second half, scoring 18 of his 25 points on 7-for-10 overall shooting and 4-for-6 shooting from 3. He hit three 3-pointers and a driving layup during a 28-18 Pistons run in the third period that cut a 16-point deficit to six at the end of the period, and a 3 and a long 2 in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter to keep the margin close. After shooting 18.6% from 3 in his previous 12 games, it was a needed return to form.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons run out of steam in loss at Pelicans, 104-98
