The Detroit Pistons were on ESPN Friday night, February 7, but they were missing their star player. Cade Cunningham got ruled out with an ankle injury just before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers. It was a big deal since it was their first, and only, game scheduled on ESPN this season. It was a bummer that Cunningham couldn’t do this thing in front of a large TV audience, but what mattered most to Pistons fans is that they pulled off a win.
The Pistons were on fire, leading by 29 at halftime and ending up with a 125-112 victory at Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit. Malik Beasley really stepped up in Cunningham’s absence, scoring a career-high 36 points. Beasley hit two crucial 3-pointers with just over three minutes left in the fourth quarter, pushing the Pistons’ lead to 123-104 and sealing the win. He shot 13 for 23 overall, including 9 for 19 from beyond the arc.
It wasn’t just Beasley. Tobias Harris contributed 22 points and nine rebounds, helping the Pistons get back to a .500 record, 26-26 overall, and ending a two-game losing streak. Ausar Thompson also had 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Beasley’s performance makes fans happy he wans’t traded. He revealed this week that he asked not to be traded from Detroit.
“I told him from the jump I want to be here,” Beasley told reporters this week, according to Sports Illustrated. “I want to help build this organization up. Want to be a vet, and do everything I can to score and just get some wins. I’m happy to be here, want to continue to stay here and let’s keep going.”
New Pistons players Dennis Schröder and Lindy Waters III didn’t play.
Tyrese Maxey as at the top of the numbers game for the 76ers with 27 points and seven assists.
Joel Embiid and the 76ers
Joel Embiid sparked a Sixers comeback in the third quarter, scoring 20 of his 23 points during a 27-7 run that cut the Pistons’ lead from 34 down to 92-78 with 4:10 left in the period. Embiid was hitting six of his eight shots and seven of eight free throws, using his tricks to draw fouls.
The Pistons regained their footing late in the third, stretching their lead back to 22 after some fast breaks from Harris and Paul Reed after an Embiid block and a missed 3-pointer from Harris. Detroit dominated the boards, grabbing 21 offensive rebounds compared to Philly’s seven.
The Sixers made another push in the fourth quarter, closing the gap to 15 points with Embiid resting on the bench.
Embiid came back in with 4:55 left, and Maxey helped the Sixers cut the Pistons’ lead to 115-104 with a free throw and a 3-pointer, making it a 21-10 run. Jalen Duren responded with a steal from Embiid and a quick layup before Beasley sealed the game with his 3-pointers.
Detroit Pistons and the Playoffs
So, are the Pistons good enough to get to the playoffs? It could happen. They’re way better than last season, of course, when they only had 14 wins.
Right now, the Pistons are tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference with 30 games left, putting them a solid 5½ games ahead of the 11th-place 76ers, 20-31. Teams ranked 7-10 will enter the NBA play-in tournament for the final two playoff spots.
Next up, the Pistons will host Charlotte, who has a 13-36 record, at 1 p.m. on Sunday.