DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons have won consecutive games for the first time this season, following Sunday’s 123-112 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Little Caesars Arena.
Veteran center-back Mason Plumlee had a big hand in victory after losing the previous two games due to bursitis in his right elbow. Plumlee recorded his first career triple-double with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He has been one of the best facilitators of the Pistons and has an average of 3.2 assists per game.
Zion Williamson, the best choice in the 2019 draft, scored 26 points and grabbed eight rebounds in his first career game against the Pistons.
The game also marked the return of Stan Van Gundy, who coached the Pistons for four seasons from 2014-2018 and was signed by New Orleans in October.
The Pistons improved to 8-19, while the Pelicans dropped to 11-15.
Detroit got off to a slow start in the first quarter, allowing New Orleans to get a 10 point lead. Pelicans overcame the home team by 40-30 to end the first period, but the second quarter would be very different.
With a sense of urgency, the Pistons picked up the pace in the second quarter, with Dennis Smith Jr., who ended the night with nine points as a point guard. He opened the quarter with the much needed 3 points to take the Pistons to a single digit deficit.
Rookie center Isaiah Stewart followed with a Williamson block to start some of the intensity they lost in the first quarter.
The Pistons ended up beating the Pelicans 34-22 in the second quarter to take the lead. They maintained that energy in the third quarter and remained ahead for eight, ending the quarter with a 97-89 lead.
Despite the offensive slow start, the Pistons had six players with double-digit points. After shooting 44.8 percent overall in the first quarter, the Pistons ended the night by shooting 53.6 percent overall for their second best offensive game of the season.
Detroit also had great help from its reserves, collecting 52 points. The Pistons leads the championship on points off the bench. The second unit was led by Josh Jackson, who scored 21 points.
Along with their strong night in painting, the Pistons had their best night besides the arc, hitting 48.6 percent of long-range shots. They sunk 17 of their 35 3-point attempts, with much of that help coming from snipers Saddiq Bey and Svi Mykhailiuk.
After a record night against the Boston Celtics, Bey hit 50 percent of her strokes in three. He went 4 out of 8 long distance and ended night 6 out of 11 overall for 16 points. He became the first newcomer to the Pistons to register four or more points from 3 points in consecutive games. He also managed four rebounds, distributed six assists and added three steals.
Mykhailiuk, who has been in close competition for minutes, made four of his eight 3-point attempts. He ended the night with 7 of 11 to win 18 points, taking two rebounds and giving six assists.
Among the other double-digit players were Delon Wright (17 points) and Jerami Grant (15 points).
The Pistons host the San Antonio Spurs (16-11) on Tuesday (7 pm, Fox Sports Detroit).