Pistons vs. Spurs: Play-by-play, highlights and reactions
The Detroit Pistons (5-26) play against the San Antonio Spurs (18-18) at AT&T Center
Game Time: 7:00 PM EST on Sunday December 26, 2021
Detroit Pistons 0, San Antonio Spurs 0 (7:00 pm ET)
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Omari Sanfoka II @omarisankofa
Tonight, Detroit native and former Michigan standout Derrick Walton Jr. will make his second career NBA start, and first with the Pistons. – 7:05 PM
Jeff McDonald @JMcDonald_SAEN
Pistons: Walton, Jackson, H. Diallo, Bey, Garza*
Spurs: White, McDermott, Johnson, KBD, Poeltl
* — Yipes – 6:55 PM
Detroit Pistons @DetroitPistons
Some new faces in the @Kia Starting 5️⃣ 👀 pic.twitter.com/CNlW4tFtTy – 6:48 PM
James Edwards III @JLEdwardsIII
Pistons starters tonight: Derrick Walton, F. Jackson, Hamidou Diallo, Saddiq Bey and Luka Garza – 6:44 PM
Omari Sanfoka II @omarisankofa
Derrick Walton Jr., Frank Jackson, Hamidou Diallo, Saddiq Bey and Luka Garza will start for the Pistons tonight. – 6:44 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
#Pistons starters tonight at #Spurs: Walton, F. Jackson, Diallo, Bey and Garza. #DFS – 6:42 PM
Jeff McDonald @JMcDonald_SAEN
Keita Bates-Diop slides into the Spurs’ starting five tonight with Murray out. Because of course he does. – 6:37 PM
San Antonio Spurs @spurs
Starting 🖐
#GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/xtuxgXF1Vn – 6:36 PM
San Antonio Spurs @spurs
feels good to be home! 🏠
#ULTRADrip | #PorVida pic.twitter.com/8tkJ5I2btP – 6:23 PM
Detroit Pistons @DetroitPistons
Fitting in nicely in San Antonio. 👍
#ULTRADrip | @MichelobUltra – 6:15 PM
Detroit Pistons @DetroitPistons
Tonight’s @HenryFordNews injury/status report against the San Antonio Spurs ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/HsVNU3Buc9 – 6:00 PM
Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
Acting head coach Rex Kalamian on Pistons’ approach to handling all the adversity they face:
“We don’t shy away from it, as an organization, or as a team. We accept the position we are in right now, and we are going to fight, compete and try to turn it into a positive.” – 5:52 PM
Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
In addition to being without 9 players, including 7 in COVID protocols, the Pistons do not have head coach Dwane Casey, who has missed 3 of the past 5 games for personal reasons.
Assistant Rex Kalamian is acting head coach. – 5:49 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
#Pistons Kalamian: “There is no pressure; it’s just basketball. I asked the team to play free, play fast and play fun … that opens it up to really being able to go out and play our best basketball.” – 5:45 PM
Omari Sanfoka II @omarisankofa
Asked Kalamian how much it helps to be able to lean on the Cruise, who run the same sets as the Pistons. “It’s comforting to know we can keep our same offensive playbook and calls and not have to change a lot of it.” – 5:43 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
#Pistons Kalamian says he likes the way the players have competed and in celebrating each other’s success in the midst of the adversity. – 5:42 PM
James Edwards III @JLEdwardsIII
Asked Rex Kalamian how do you even prepare for a game when you’re going through what the Pistons are going through: “There are a lot of restrictions right now. We’ve had to do a lot, really, through film.” Said they’re doing more visually and verbally last few days. – 5:41 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
#Pistons Kalamian on preparation amid protocol chaos: “There’s a lot of restrictions right now, such as being in groups and being on the court.”
He says they’ve done more through video than in person. – 5:41 PM
Omari Sanfoka II @omarisankofa
Kalamian said Derrick Walton Jr. is ready to go tonight. “We called up some G League coaches. We had a brief meeting tonight on what we could run. I met with Derrick and went through our menu of plays to run … he knew every one.” – 5:40 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
#Pistons Kalamian said they’ve called up some G League coaches as well as the G League players for tonight’s game. He says PG Derrick Walton Jr. knows many of their plays: “He can step in and play right away.” – 5:40 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
#Pistons Kalamian on Trey Lyles: “He probably had his best game of the year against Miami…he’s done a great job and we like Trey Lyles around here.” – 5:38 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
#Pistons acting coach Rex Kalamian on health and safety issues: “This is a part of the NBA; adversity is going to come.” – 5:36 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
Looks like #Pistons Rex Kalamian will be the acting coach again tonight at #Spurs. – 5:35 PM
Paul Garcia @PaulGarciaNBA
Pistons players available today who have been on the team since training camp: pic.twitter.com/KxuuSihGrW – 5:32 PM
Paul Garcia @PaulGarciaNBA
By my count, the Pistons have 8 players available:
1. S Bey
2. H Diallo
3. F Jackson
4. L Garza
5. J Pickett
6. C Diallo
7. C Stanley
8. D Walton Jr. – 5:27 PM
Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
Pop on team’s confidence in Tre Jones possibly getting more minutes in Dejounte’s absence:
“He’s a wonderful competitor and coachable as heck. He just absorbs everything. So having somebody like that you can put on the court is a plus for any team.” – 5:22 PM
Jeff McDonald @JMcDonald_SAEN
Pop, on trepidation Dejounte Murray’s entrance into health and safety protocols might create a snowball effect, as has been the case with other teams:
“Any logical person would worry, how far is this going to go?” – 5:21 PM
Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
Pop keeps loss of Murray in perspective, in noting Spurs “are not alone” in losing key players to COVID protocols:
“A lot of teams have had to go through this, and Dejounte has been kind of our kickstarter, so it’s an important loss, for sure. But you’ve got to go play.” – 5:20 PM
Paul Garcia @PaulGarciaNBA
Latest injury report for the Pistons now has 12 players out for today vs Spurs: pic.twitter.com/418Tw62W41 – 5:19 PM
Eric Walden @tribjazz
Donovan Mitchell’s back injury will keep him in SLC while the Utah Jazz head to San Antonio and Portland for a two-game road trip. sltrib.com/sports/jazz/20… – 5:09 PM
Sarah Todd @NBASarah
Donovan Mitchell will not travel on the Jazz’s two game trip to San Antonio and Portland. he’s out with a low back strain and will stay in SLC to get treatment. – 5:05 PM
Omari Sanfoka II @omarisankofa
The Pistons have nine healthy players ahead of tonight’s game against the Spurs —
Saddiq Bey
Frank Jackson
Hamidou Diallo
Luka Garza
Jamorko Pickett
Derrick Walton Jr.
Cassius Stanley
Cheick Diallo
Deividas Sirvidis – 5:04 PM
Ben Anderson @BensHoops
Donovan Mitchell will miss the @Utah Jazz road trip with a lower back strain.
He’ll remain in Utah while the Jazz are in San Antonio and Portland. – 5:02 PM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
📅 On this day in 2001, the @San Antonio Spurs Tim Duncan scored a career-high 53 points in a loss to the Mavericks:
✅ 53 PTS
✅ 11 REB
✅ 3 BLK
✅ 19-28 FG
✅ 15-15 FT
It was the only 50-point game of Duncan’s illustrious career. pic.twitter.com/Gtfxp5YZyJ – 5:01 PM
Detroit Pistons PR @Pistons_PR
The #Pistons announced today that the club has signed Deividas Sirvydis to a 10-day contract using the COVID-related hardship allowance.
Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. – 4:52 PM
Omari Sanfoka II @omarisankofa
Pistons announced they’ve signed Deividas Sirvydis to a 10-day. He’ll wear #91 pic.twitter.com/R0eNO0uOJE – 4:50 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
#Pistons announce signing Deividas Sirvydis to a 10-day contract, via the hardship exception. – 4:50 PM
JD Shaw @JShawNBA
The Pistons announce the signing of Deividas Sirvydis to a 10-day contract. – 4:49 PM
Eric Woodyard @E_Woodyard
#Lions safety Tracy Walker was “buffed up” after the game with the Cartier frames. Detroit style. pic.twitter.com/VcNsUjUQse – 4:47 PM
Matt Dery @DerySpeaks
Postgame POD. #Lions battle but fall short to the #Falcons 20-16. Not enough offense but hung until the end. #FirstListen. DEC 26. Locked On Lions – Daily Podcast On The Detroit Lions https://t.co/j5ej3NiaqJ pic.twitter.com/BrULC7jRhh – 4:46 PM
James Edwards III @JLEdwardsIII
Can confirm that the Pistons have signed Sirvydis to a 10-day hardship. @Adrian Wojnarowski first. – 4:35 PM
Donatas Urbonas @Urbodo
The Detroit Pistons sign Deividas Sirvydis to a 10-day contract, per sources. – 4:33 PM
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
The Detroit Pistons are signing G-League forward Deividas Sirvydis to a 10-day hardship deal, source tells ESPN. He plays with Detroit’s Motor City affiliate. – 4:32 PM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
📅 On this day in 1976, the @San Antonio Spurs Larry Kenon set the NBA single-game record for steals with 11 in a 110-105 win over the Kings.
Kenon’s mark was later matched by Kendall Gill (April 3, 1999), but has yet to be surpassed. pic.twitter.com/El6WtHu0D7 – 4:31 PM
Justin Kubatko @jkubatko
📅 On this day in 2011, Kawhi Leonard had six points and six rebounds in his NBA debut with the @San Antonio Spurs.
Leonard and Hakeem Olajwuon are the only players in NBA history to win multiple DPOY and Finals MVP awards. pic.twitter.com/sGxcv8nJ5U – 4:01 PM
Detroit Pistons @DetroitPistons
🚨 Item of the Game 🚨
Check out this @JFclothingco #Pistons tie-dye long sleeve shirt!
🔗: https://t.co/ZayyAwiYqy pic.twitter.com/Ogi0xivZ3O – 4:00 PM
Detroit Pistons @DetroitPistons
If you got new #Pistons merch as presents this weekend, let’s see it!
Share a pic for our @UWMLife Reppin’ the D fan shoutout → https://t.co/js4XQ9JbRs pic.twitter.com/E16QYJ11mv – 3:13 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
#Pistons add Josh Jackson, Cory Joseph to health and safety protocols. They could be down to 9 available players for tonight at #Spurs: https://t.co/sUwUYKdMhy pic.twitter.com/stAYHU13eu – 3:04 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
By my count, #Pistons will have 9 players available for tonight’s game at #Spurs: Saddiq Bey, Hamidou Diallo, Luka Garza, Frank Jackson, Isaiah Livers, Jamorko Pickett, Derrick Walton Jr., Cassius Stanley and Cheick Diallo. – 2:54 PM
Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
Spurs have confidence in Tre Jones, who has made great strides in developing into a solid backup at point guard after an injury-plagued start to the season.
The second-year pro will team with Derrick White to hold down the fort while Murray is in protocols. – 2:53 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
#Pistons expect to start Derrick Walton Jr. at point guard, along with Luka Garza at center, along with Frank Jackson, Hamidou Diallo and Saddiq Bey tonight at #Spurs. – 2:40 PM
Rod Beard @detnewsRodBeard
#Pistons Cory Joseph and Josh Jackson are in health and safety protocols ahead of tonight’s game at #Spurs.
DET has entered eight players in the protocols this week. – 2:39 PM
Tom Orsborn @tom_orsborn
Dejounte Murray is out for today vs. Detroit after entering the league’s health and safety protocols, per Spurs injury report. – 2:21 PM
Omari Sanfoka II @omarisankofa
The Pistons have eight players in healthy and safety protocols after Josh Jackson and Cory Joseph were added to the list today freep.com/story/sports/n… – 2:12 PM
Eddie Sefko @ESefko
And today’s winner (loser?) on the injury-list report is Orlando, with 15 players on the latest injury report, 12 of whom are listed as “out.” Detroit and Toronto have 12 each. Mavericks have not submitted their update yet. – 2:05 PM
Detroit Pistons @DetroitPistons
Frank sets it up ⬆️ and Saben throws it down ⬇️ for the Dunk of the Week, presented by @DraftKings. pic.twitter.com/p9sy2C7zq8 – 2:00 PM
Matthew Tynan @Matthew_Tynan
Welp. Kinda figured it was only a matter of time. About to be some tough sledding for the Spurs with Dejounte entering protocols. Now you just hope they’re able to avoid a breakout of cases. – 1:11 PM
Detroit Pistons @DetroitPistons
Celebrate 2022 in style with NO FEES on remaining home games, courtesy of @soldbymarkz Real Estate Experts.
🔗: https://t.co/VCOr4wCYSr pic.twitter.com/HCVpxQD8Ya – 1:00 PM
