For the most part, Detroit Pistons struggles just for his first playoffs since 2019.
But in the wake of Sunday’s fight with Minnesota Timberwolves, the pistons will be without Isaiah Stewart, Ron Holland II and Marcus Sasser for Wednesday’s road game against Oklahoma City. Stewart received a two-game suspension while the others were hit for a game without pay.
“When you play as we play, you earn a reputation, you will be tested, and guys think that is what they have to do,” said Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff, who was also thrown out for Sunday’s second quarter. “You obviously regret it was all taking place.
“I thought our guys stood their land and defended each other, had each other’s back,” Bickerstaff said. “There are non-negotiations in our dressing room.”
The pistons can also be without a point guard Cade Cunningham, although they have compiled a 3-1 record since he went down with a calf injury. He is listed as hesitant.
“They don’t want to let him down,” Bickerstaff said about the team’s reaction to being without Cunningham. “Faith is there. Confidence is there.
“He has earned so much of their respect for putting together this team. He leads in so many ways. He has captured so many of the guys’ spirits.”
Detroit was without Tobias Harris for the last two games with an Achilles injury. He is listed as probable.
Oklahoma City won the first meeting between the teams, 113-107, March 15 in Detroit. Cunningham was thrown out in that game, which led to Bickerstaff saying he was “disgusted” with the game’s officer.
“We grow young players. Our young players are competing by the tail,” Bickerstaff said after the previous game against Thunder. “The least as they would do is get the same respect as everyone else in this league receives and may refer in the same way as everyone else in this league is rejected. Enough is enough.”
In the meantime, Oklahoma City continues to roll up ambiguous. Thunder (63-12) has won 10 games in a row, their second longest winning line of the season, and is a victory from tying the one-season franchise record set by Seattle Supersonics 1995-96.
Thunder comes from a 145-117 outbuilding victory over Chicago on Monday, which dressed the NBA record for most victories against the opposite conference.
Oklahoma City stands 28-1 against eastern conference opponents this season, with its only loss coming January 8 in Cleveland.
“It just shows that we put the same amount of preparation for all teams, regardless of east or west,” said Thunder Guard Isaiah Joe. “We treat every game as it is worth something. It shows.”
Joe matched her season high with 31 points in Monday’s victory.
During the eight matches after the narrow 15 March victory over Detroit, Joe has shot 53.2 percent beyond the arch and on average 4.1 3-points per match.
“He has a great attitude and routine on his own and inside the team,” said Thunder coach Mark Daigneault. “He has unmatched confidence. … He finds his shots, he works on his shots and he continues to double and shoot them.”
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