Detroit Pistons go cold late, fall to Memphis Grizzlies, 116-102, for 18th straight loss
The Memphis Grizzlies are one of the few teams who can relate to the Detroit Pistons’ early season injury woes.
Not only is superstar Ja Morant out for two more weeks due to a suspension, the Grizzlies were also without starting center Steven Adams, key big man Brandon Clark, former Pistons lottery pick Luke Kennard and veteran Marcus Smart — nearly a starting lineup-worth of talent.
Ultimately, it didn’t matter. Desmond Bane (49 points, eight assists) and former Michigan State basketball star Jaren Jackson Jr. (24 points) carried the Grizzlies, accounting for 62.9% of their point total
But it was their largely-unproven role players who iced the 116-102 win in the final period, handing the Pistons (2-19 overall) their 18th consecutive loss.
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Memphis shot just 5-for-16 from deep through the first three quarters, but Jackson, David Roddy, Santi Aldama, John Konchar and Vince Williams Jr. all hit a 3-pointer each in the fourth quarter to push Memphis’ lead to double-digits.
Bane, who shot 19-for-31 overall, hit the dagger 3-pointer with 57 seconds remaining to push the lead back to 12. The final period was the Pistons' worst, shooting 6-for-21 overall and 4-for-13 from 3, several of which were wide-open. The Pistons were outscored, 34-18, in the fourth, after taking an 84-82 lead into the final period.
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Bojan Bogdanovic, in his second game back from injury, led Detroit with 22 points. Jalen Duren (17 points, 11 rebounds), Cade Cunningham (16 points, 10 assists) and Killian Hayes (12 points) also reached double-figures.
Jaylen Nowell (12 points) was Memphis’ only other player to reach double-figures.
Adding injury to insult, in the second half Duren seemed to re-injure his left ankle which has forced him to miss several stretches of games already this season.
Bojan starts, shows off playmaking
There are many aspects to Bogdanovic’s game the Pistons missed while the veteran forward missed the first 19 games of the season. Much has been said of his floor-spacing and overall scoring. But he’s also one of the better all-around playmakers on the roster.
That was on full display Wednesday, as he dished all seven of his assists in the first half. He was a big reason why the Pistons were able to punish Memphis in the paint, where they scored 34 of their 56 points first half points.
Bogdanovic pushed the ball and rewarded Detroit’s cutters, assisting a Hayes dunk in transition early in the first quarter and finding Duren for another dunk, this time off of a dump-off pass. He sparked a Pistons run after he checked in again midway through the second, finding a cutting Ivey for a layup and connecting with him once again 39 seconds before halftime to give Detroit the lead, 53-52.
He then closed the first half with style, waiving off an open Ivey in the corner and burning time off of the clock before hitting a stepback-3, extending the lead to four.
Hayes showcases improved shotmaking, exits early
Is it time to label Hayes a midrange merchant?
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It’s still early in the season, but the fourth-year guard is enjoying a career-best season inside-the-arc so far. Per Cleaning The Glass, he’s hitting 67% of his shots at the rim (55th percentile among NBA combo guards), 47% from short-midrange (62nd percentile) and 45% on all midrange shots (53rd percentile). It’s his first time shooting at least league-average on midrange shots, and it has been his go-to.
His success continued Wednesday, as he hit a pair of midrange jumpers in the second quarter to help Detroit stay within striking distance, then completed a 3-point play at the end of the third to give the Pistons a two-point lead.
Hayes exited the game with 9:20 remaining in the fourth while wincing in pain, but he returned to finish the game with 3:40 left.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him @omarisankofa.
Make "The Pistons Pulse" your go-to Detroit Pistons podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify).
Next up: Magic
Matchup: Pistons (2-19) at Orlando (14-7), NBA In-Season Tournament consolation game.
Tipoff: 7 p.m. Friday; Amway Center, Orlando, Florida.
TV/radio: Bally Sports Detroit; WXYT-FM (97.1).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons fall to Grizzlies at LCA for 18th straight loss
