Ja Morant's hot night buries Detroit Pistons in 126-111 preseason loss to Grizzlies
The Detroit Pistons shook off a slow start on Thursday, but it wasn't enough to overcome a hot night from Ja Morant.
The superstar point guard scored 31 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to a 126-111 win over the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena. The Pistons, who were missing six rotation players due to injuries, finish the preseason with a 0-4 record. Detroit shot 9-for-24 from 3-point range in the second half after shooting 6-for-28 in the first, but had no answer for Morant, who scored 17 points in the third quarter.
Saddiq Bey led the Pistons with 17 points and eight rebounds, Isaiah Stewart scored 16 points and hit four of 10 3s, and Cade Cunningham added 15 points, six rebounds and six assists. Kevin Knox added 13 points and hit three 3-pointers in his preseason debut.
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Marvin Bagley III (right MCL sprain), Killian Hayes (right hip soreness), Isaiah Livers (right hip soreness), Nerlens Noel (return to competition conditioning), Alec Burks (left navicular fracture) and Hamidou Diallo (left quad strain) all missed the game. All except Bagley have a chance to return in time for the regular season, which opens Wednesday at home against the Orlando Magic.
Stewart makes the most of 3-point opportunity
Stewart’s transformation into a floor-spacing big man is well underway. He has worked on the shot since the Pistons drafted him two years ago. Since the end of last season, he has shot it with volume and accuracy.
Thursday provided more proof that Stewart may be a legitimate outside threat this season. The Grizzlies were comfortable letting him shoot. He missed his first four attempts before finding a rhythm. He then made four of his next six. If it were a regular-season game, his attempts and makes both would’ve been career highs.
The Pistons will be happy if Stewart shoots the way he did on Thursday. They desperately need consistent shooting, and he’s the only player on the roster taller than 6 feet 8 who has shown an ability to consistently knock them down. Coupled with his switchability on defense, he’s becoming one of Detroit’s best two-way players.
Duren capitalizes on Bagley absence
Entering training camp, it wasn’t clear how many opportunities would be available for Jalen Duren, the No. 13 pick in July's NBA draft. The 18-year-old plays a position that was previously deep for Detroit — center. Injuries have changed the calculus. Noel has yet to make his preseason debut, and Bagley could miss the next month. Duren has been thrust into the spotlight.
Duren is still raw, but he has flashed potential. Thursday was his third time in three preseason games grabbing double-digit rebounds, and he’s Detroit’s preseason leader in that category. He’s already a reliable lob and putback threat. His athleticism has given the second unit a needed energy boost.
Fouls have been an issue, though. He fouled out with 4:51 remaining Thursday after picking up five against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday. It won’t be as problematic once Noel and Bagley return, but it has hurt the Pistons up front during in the preseason.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Preseason: Detroit Pistons gored by Ja Morant, Grizzlies, 126-111
