Without Cunningham, Pistons fall flat in blowout loss to Sixers,

On By Littum

Detroit — Coach JB Bickerstaff has been grateful for the NBA’s In-Season Tournament since its inception last season. However, he has not been happy to have a back-to-back set after a tournament game. Bickerstaff described it as “extremely difficult” as a team must compete in a playoff-like atmosphere and return to normal play less than 24 hours later.

After their third In-Season Tournament game in East Group B, Bickerstaff vowed the Detroit Pistons would not change their approach heading into Saturday’s contest against the Philadelphia 76ers. However, they held firm a 111-96 loss at Little Caesars Arena. It happened less than 24 hours after the Pistons recorded a 130-106 NBA Cup road victory over the Indiana Pacers.

However, the schedule was one of many factors that contributed to the loss. Less than 30 minutes before tipoff, leading scorer Cade Cunningham was a late scratch due to a sprained left sacroiliac joint. It’s the same injury that forced him to miss three straight games before returning against the Pacers on Friday night. The Pistons are 9-13 overall and 1-3 without Cunningham.

Malik Beasley scored a team-best 19 points and Jaden Ivey had 15 points and five assists. The subpar schedule and Cunningham’s injury forced Bickerstaff to dig deeper into his bench. Marcus Sasser scored 12, while Wendell Moore Jr. finished with 11.

With low energy on both ends, the Pistons looked far from a team on the brink of advancing to the knockout round of the NBA Cup.

The Sixers (4-14) came into Detroit well rested and jumped out to an early 22-7 lead. Philadelphia had not played since their overtime loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. In addition to their rest, the Sixers welcomed All-Star Paul George back to the lineup.

George missed the previous three games due to a bone bruise in his left knee. He scored 11 points (4-of-12 field goals, 1-of-2 on 3-pointers) and added eight rebounds and five assists amid his return. Tyrese Maxey scored a game-high 28 points.

Observations vs. Sixers

A small glimmer of hope: The Pistons’ second-quarter performance marked the only time Detroit gave a glimpse of an improbable comeback. They outscored the Sixers 32-20 in the period and cut their one-time 18-point deficit to 54-50 after Beasley’s 3-point field goal with 1:34 left. They shot 50% in the period and Beasley accounted for 11 points.

Injury update on Bobi Klintman: Rookie Bobby Klintman has missed all 22 games this season because of a calf contusion he suffered during the first week of training camp. Bickerstaff revealed before the game that Klintman is moving in the right direction, but his recovery has taken longer than the team originally expected.

Injuries have derailed the Sixers’ season: The win against the Pistons gave Philadephia its fourth win of the season and second over the previous nine games. However, the ankle injury Andre Drummond held three minutes into the game is the prime example of how the Sixers have fallen short of their championship aspirations.

By sitting out against the pistons, Joel Embiid missed his 11th game due to knee soreness. His absence has been instrumental in the Sixers registering the league’s third-worst record. Philadephia’s Big 3 of Embiid, George and Maxey have only played six minutes together.

Next

The Pistons wrap up their two-game homestand against the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night. The game will be the final of group play for the Pistons, who are currently in first place in East Group B. Both teams have a 3-0 record. Tipoff between the Stamps and Bucks is scheduled for 7:00 p.m

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