Detroit — It will be a long time before Coach J.B. Bickerstaff has his entire lineup back on the court. In fact, he might not get the opportunity until next season, as Jaden Ivey’s return from a broken left fibula remains uncertain.
But Saturday night, Bickerstaff had the opportunity to welcome back his All-Star guard, Cade Cunningham, who had missed the previous six games because of a calf injury. He played less than 30 minutes in his return, but still showcased why the Pistons missed his All-NBA caliber talent once he connected on a floater at the 5:48 mark of the second quarter.
In 27 minutes played, Cunningham led Detroit with 25 points (9-of-24 field goals, 2-of-6 3-pointers), eight rebounds and three assists. However, his performance wasn’t enough to prevent Detroit from sustaining a 109-103 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies at Little Caesars Arena.
“I got hit in my left calf (against the Dallas Mavericks on March 21), and then, it made my right calf tighten up,” Cunningham said. “A lot was going on, and I got sick at the same time. I was battling a lot of different things. The training staff got me right, and I feel great now. I feel good going into the playoffs.”
Cunningham wasn’t the only Piston who made a triumphant return. Isaiah Stewart concluded his two-game suspension as a result of a dust-up against the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 30. Stewart finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a pair of steals.
BOX SCORE: Grizzlies 109, Pistons 103
Grizzlies All-Star point guard Ja Morant was a late scratch because of food poisoning. In his absence, Desmond Bane took on the responsibility of carrying the Grizzlies’ scoring load, finishing with 38 points on 15-of-23 shooting, 4-of-7 from behind the arc. He began the night by shooting 7-of-7 from the field, which contributed to the Grizzlies holding a 36-26 advantage midway through the second period.
“He’s (Bane) a good player and he can score in so many different ways,” Bickerstaff said. “He can make open shots; he can put the ball on the floor and create his own. He’s good at driving the ball and creating contact. He’s just a well-rounded offensive player.”
The Pistons had one of their worst shooting performances of the season as Memphis widened their lead to double digits. They started the quarter by shooting just 1-of-12 from the field until Cunningham made a floater with a little over five minutes left. His basket helped Detroit outscore the Grizzlies 21-10, resulting in the Pistons holding a 47-46 lead by intermission.
Bane continued his dominance in the second half, which allowed the Grizzlies to take a 93-88 lead with five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Dennis Schroder (10 points) and Malik Beasley (11 points) connected on back-to-back 3-pointers to bring the Pistons within 93-91 with four minutes left. Although the Pistons stayed within striking distance, they did not have enough momentum to complete a comeback.
Former Michigan State prospect Jaren Jackson Jr. registered 27 points and 11 rebounds. Rookie big man Zach Edey recorded 21 boards in 25 minutes for Memphis and was vital in the Grizzlies out-rebounding the Pistons 64-44.
“That was the game,” Bickerstaff said. “We have to be able to rebound the ball better. We were great in transition as usual tonight, but their size and their length in the paint kind of got the best of us tonight.”
Observations and notes vs. Grizzlies
▶ Duren out because of injury: Jalen Duren was a late addition to the Pistons’ injury report due to a right peroneal contusion, and the team held him out for cautionary reasons. Tobias Harris remained out because of an Achilles injury.
▶ Hardaway’s streak comes to an end: After he scored 20 or more points in four consecutive games, Tim Hardaway’s streak came to an end against the Grizzlies. He finished with nine points on 2-of-10 shooting. He came into the game averaging 24.5 points on 51.7% shooting from the field.
▶ Mr. 300: With a 3-point field goal late in the third quarter, Malik Beasley became the first player in franchise history to make 300 3-point field goals in a season. He also became the fourth player in league history to achieve the feat, joining Stephen Curry, James Harden and Klay Thompson.
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Up next
The Pistons will continue their four-game homestand on Monday night, facing off against the Sacramento Kings. They will host the New York Knicks on Thursday. Tip-off between the Kings and Pistons at Little Caesars Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
