JB Bickerstaff and the Pistons came so close to a third consecutive win.
In a tightly contested game, the Detroit Pistons fell short against the Charlotte Hornets. After gaining momentum from two straight victories, the Pistons were denied a third as Hornets forward Brandon Miller scored a putback layup just as time expired, sealing the 108-107 defeat.
Detroit head coach JB Bickerstaff reflected on the significance of the loss for his young squad.
“It’s definitely a tough loss. We played well, made crucial plays to get back into the game, and even took the lead. Everyone contributed, and Ron (Holland II) made a significant play near the end,” Bickerstaff stated. “It’s a hard one to take.”
With the loss, the Pistons’ record now stands at 3-6 after this competitive road matchup. The game featured 17 ties and 18 lead changes. Detroit had a chance to secure the win when Holland grabbed a loose ball and converted it into a layup with just six seconds remaining. However, Charlotte answered back as Miller capitalized on a missed three by Grant Williams with a close-range layup.
Point guard Cade Cunningham notched another triple-double, scoring 20 points while providing 10 assists and grabbing 10 rebounds. Shooting guard Jaden Ivey led Detroit in scoring with 21 points on 8-of-16 shooting, continuing to impress with his three-point accuracy by hitting 3-of-5 against the Hornets.
For Charlotte, forward Miles Bridges was the top scorer with 27 points, while point guard LaMelo Ball contributed significantly with 25 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, including 15 points in the fourth quarter. Miller added 19 points, including the decisive basket that led to the victory.
Pistons’ Jalen Duren sidelined due to injury.
Detroit faced off against Charlotte for most of the game without their starting center, Jalen Duren. Just seven minutes into the match, the 20-year-old twisted his ankle. In the first quarter, Duren jumped to grab a rebound but landed badly, leading to the injury. Throughout his young career, Duren has experienced several ankle injuries.
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