Detroit Pistons NBA Cup game against the Bucks, biggest duel in years

It’s been more than half a decade since the Detroit Pistons’ last playoff appearance. If you counted backwards the years from the last playoff game to the last playoff win, you would run out of fingers.

With that in mind, it’s easier to understand why Tuesday’s home game could be the most consequential in recent memory.

If they defeat the Milwaukee Bucks, the Pistons will finish the group stage of the Emirates NBA Cup 4-0 and advance to the knockout rounds – three wins away from hoisting a banner for the first time since 2008.

It’s important, especially for a team that’s off to its best start since 2018-19.

“Guys are excited,” JB Bickerstaff said after the team’s practice at the New Center on Monday. “The mood is good, the boys are excited, they are looking forward to the opportunity. As mentioned, we want to give our boys a chance to play meaningful basketball and see what that feels like. For some of our boys, this is the most meaningful basketball they have ever played. It’s a great opportunity for us, a great experience for us.”

It’s a win-and-get-in scenario for the Pistons and the Bucks, but there’s a chance the Pistons could advance with a loss. They would clinch the East wild card spot if they have a better point differential than the Boston Celtics (3-1, +23) and the loser between the New York Knicks (3-0, +15) and the Orlando Magic (3- 0, +) would have 60). The Pistons currently have a +28 differential.

On November 13th, they blew an 18-point lead against the Bucks, who were without Damian Lillard. Giannis Antetokounmpo dominated with 59 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, but it wasn’t until Milwaukee’s role players came into play that the Pistons lost control of the game.

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Antetokounmpo scored 28 of the Bucks’ 57 points before halftime. If you take him out of the equation, the Bucks shot just 6 of 27 (22.2%) overall in the first half. The score improved to 17 of 30 (56.7%) in the second half, with Brook Lopez, Gary Trent Jr. and Taurean Prince combining for 37 points on 18 of 25 (72%) shooting.

The Bucks are 6-0 since Lillard returned from a concussion on Nov. 18, and he has averaged 25.8 points and 9.8 assists in that time. This is a much better team than the one the Pistons lost to in overtime three weeks ago.

“When Lillard and Giannis are on the floor, we know how good and how dangerous they can be,” Bickerstaff said. “The continuity seems to be there. Defensively, they seem to be able to figure out what to do with their plans and things like that.

“I don’t think any of us watching the basketball game expected to have problems this year. We know they are a good basketball team. They have great coaches there who will prepare them well. We knew it was coming and they just found their rhythm.”

Ausar Thompson, who scored nine points and blocked two shots in Saturday’s 15-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, gives the Pistons a defensive counter. Thompson is the team’s best fullback and had stunning performances as a rookie last season against several superstars, including Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Thompson’s minutes have been limited since his season debut on Nov. 25 and he is averaging 15.5 minutes in four games. But he still made the difference.

“This is great,” Bickerstaff said of Thompson’s return. “When you have a guy who can shut guys down and slow down elite players, it changes the way you deal with the support staff and it helps you shut down the other guys.” Sometimes when you have to bring in multiple players, catch the role players, the 3-point shooters, the easy players.

“When you have a guy like Ausar who can slow guys down, you can stay home longer and make it more of a one-on-one game, and then you have a chance to recover, come out and your offense started moving forward.”

It’s not often that a team has an early December game circled on their calendar. But the NBA Cup, now in its second season, gives the Pistons something bigger to compete for as they look to maintain a much-improved start compared to last year.

“We all want the experience of winning something,” Cade Cunningham said. “We’ll do it.”

(MUST WATCH: Make The Pistons Pulse your favorite Detroit Pistons podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or watch live/on-demand on YouTube. )

Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on X @omarisankofa.

Next up: Bucks

Matchup: Pistons (9-13) vs. Milwaukee (10-9), NBA Cup East Group B play.

Tip: Tuesday, 7 p.m.; Little Caesars Arena, Detroit.

TV/Radio: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit; WXYT-FM (97.1).

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