The Detroit Pistons bounced back impressively, earning their first victory of the regular season in a 115-111 battle against the Houston Rockets. This chippy matchup turned out in the Pistons’ favor after coming up short in their season opener on Wednesday versus the Chicago Bulls.
Detroit also helped make history for head coach J. B. Bickerstaff, as he earned his 300th career victory. Bickerstaff has begun his second season as the lead voice for the Pistons, and their Friday night victory showed a true testament to the gritty play style he wants to establish as the franchise foundation.
Bickerstaff was proud of his team’s resilience and competitive nature in their win on the road against Houston. “I think our guys lived up to our motto for the season. What we want to do is control the chaos, and I think that’s what you saw out there on the floor,” Bickerstaff stated during the Pistons’ postgame media session.
“Last year, there were times when things got a little muddy and we let our emotions get the best of us. I think tonight we did a phenomenal job of when things got messy, we didn’t back down or shy away. We kept our composure, and we were able to execute through it.”
All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham finished the night with a near triple-double in the winning effort. He led the Pistons with 21 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Detroit’s franchise leader helped ice the game, knocking down two huge free throws with five seconds left, putting the Pistons up by four points.
Forward Ausar Thompson scored a season-high 19 points against his twin brother, Amen Thompson. He had an efficient scoring night, hitting 9-of-16 shots, including a confident three-pointer in the second half.
Shooting guard Duncan Robinson rebounded drastically with an impressive 17-point performance. Robinson had an off-season debut against the Bulls, scoring only two points in 32 minutes. The Pistons kept him involved offensively, making 5-of-9 attempts from the field and 4-of-8 from three-point range.
### Breakout Performance by Pistons’ Paul Reed
One of the most underrated veterans on the Pistons roster has been big man Paul Reed. Detroit entered the matchup with a shorthanded roster, missing Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser, and Caris LeVert due to injuries.
Adversity escalated when the Pistons lost key depth in the frontcourt. Reed became a major X-factor for their victory after center Jalen Duren was ejected for a physical scuffle with Amen Thompson. The Pistons also lost backup center Isaiah Stewart and forward Ron Holland in the fourth quarter when both fouled out.
Reed stepped in seamlessly, making an impact both offensively and defensively. The 26-year-old forward scored 13 points on 6-of-10 shooting. However, his most vital contributions came on defense, guarding All-Star center Alperen Sengun late in the fourth quarter. Reed forced two key turnovers by Sengun, helping to set up crucial baskets for the Pistons on the other end.
The Pistons’ gritty performance and balanced contributions across the roster were key in securing their hard-fought road victory against Houston, signaling promising momentum early in the season.
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