This recap would start with a big high-five for Wayne Ellington. We’ll get to that.
Instead, let’s talk about Delon Wright.
Dwane Casey’s favorite reserve guard has taken over as the starter since Killian Hayes’s hip injury earlier this month. It’s been an indefinite race in 10 games with Wright scoring 8 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game.
Those numbers have recently increased: 17 points and 6 rebounds against the Houston Rockets, then 10 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday.
Facing the 76ers at home again on Monday, Wright had his best game of the year, scoring 28 points, giving 9 assists and picking up 7 rebounds to lead the last placed Pistons ahead of Joel Embiid-less Sixers, 119-104.
Victories came few and far between for the Pistons, now 4-13, but Wright and Ellington’s backcourt won this game – I bet you didn’t think you’d hear that tonight.
Wright was the star, but Ellington’s shot was a catalyst.
The veteran guard was signed as something to think about later. His recent stint as a regular seemed temporary. We all know that he is an unpredictable player, he will soon be cold. It’s probably still the case … but it certainly isn’t the case now.
Ellington scored 20 points and hit 6 of 9 triples, setting a new Pistons record of 3 more points in a sequence of five games with 26.
It’s Wayne’s world. We are just living in it:
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Chris Daniels / Detroit Bad Boys
In addition: it is crazy to be on this point, but Jerami Grant scored a discreet 25 points in the victory. He recovered from a couple of tough games where he hit just 7 out of 34 shots. The beauty of his game against Philly was a 10-in-10 free-throw line.
it is real It’s hard to be the NBA’s top scorer if you can’t get to the line. It is good to see that from Grant as the teams begin to double up against him defensively.
Josh Jackson scored 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds from the bench before being kicked out in the fourth period after a definitely sullen stretch that elbowed Ben Simmons in the face, arguing with inactive Mike Scott before taking the momentum after take an overly aggressive jump pass to an official after a foul.
As for the children, they all played. Saddiq Bey had a few minutes in the first half, but didn’t do much. Saben Lee played better than his numbers, and Sekou Doumbouya – coming out of a solid game last time – continued with another beautiful effort.
He hit a pair of triples, played hard and avoided the uncontrolled bouts that hindered him this season. It turns out that Casey doesn’t hate him after all.
Isaiah Stewart didn’t really do much, except annoy Dwight Howard’s hell, which was wonderful:
Playing without the star Embiid, the Sixers never looked like the best team in the East.
Detroit jumped to a 16 point lead in the first quarter and led the rest of the way. Simmons, burdened with problems all night, was not a factor. The Pistons kept him with 11 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds.
Tobias Harris, everyone’s favorite former Piston, led Philly with 25 points.
Overall, this was the Pistons’ best performance of the year. They played a solid defense, the kids took their time and they beat the Sixers for the second time since 2017.
The tank is still rolling, but it’s good to beat a good team every now and then. Each NBA team will win games, you can’t lose them all, so at least it’s fun to see the Pistons win their victories here and there against teams that really matter.