Detroit Pistons see career-best performance from Saddiq Bey, crushed by Bucks, 130-115

Detroit Free Press

Omari Sankofa II
 
| Detroit Free Press

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The Detroit Pistons‘ game against the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday went similarly to their game against the Bucks on Monday.

Milwaukee led for the entire night and built significant leads, but the Pistons rallied to make the final score respectable. 

After trailing by 34 early in the third quarter, the Pistons outscored the Bucks down the stretch yet fell, 130-115, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.

The Pistons saw career performances from Jerami Grant (career-high 31 points, 10 rebounds) and Saddiq Bey, who had career-highs in points (20), rebounds (10) and 3-pointers made (six).

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks (5-3) with 25 points and eight rebounds.

The Pistons, who have lost three games in four days and are now a league-worst 1-7, have dropped 13 consecutive games to the Bucks.

The Pistons begin a four-game homestand Friday at Little Caesars Arena vs. Chris Paul and the Phoenix Suns (6-2).

Pistons’ Killian Hayes hip injury: Why he may not need surgery to recover ]

Pistons, Bucks kneel together before game

The Pistons played basketball after a suspenseful day in American history, which saw protestors storm the U.S. Capitol building in support of president Donald Trump’s effort to overthrow the 2020 election two weeks before president-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration. 

It was on coaches and players’ minds entering the game. Pistons head coach Dwane Casey denounced the riots by Trump’s supporters in Washington D.C. before the game.

In a show of solidarity, the Pistons and Bucks jointly kneeled after the opening tip, following Tuesday’s announcement there would be no charges for the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis. over the summer.

“(Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer) and I talked about it before the game and players talked about it, and they decided that they were going to have that as a demonstration for his family,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “It was appropriate. Guys still had to come out and play the game but they wanted to show a sign of unity and support for the family.” 

Blake survived the August shooting but was left paralyzed, after being shot while walking away from officers and getting into a vehicle with his children inside. The incident disrupted sports leagues across the nation for multiple days, with the Bucks’ players leading the way by boycotting a playoff game. The MLB, NHL, WNBA and MLS followed soon after by postponing games.

Derrick Rose leaves game, injuries continue to mount

The Pistons were already shorthanded going into Wednesday’s game. Rookie point guard Killian Hayes is out indefinitely with a torn labrum in his right hip, and Josh Jackson missed his second game after spraining his right ankle Sunday. 

Detroit could be even more shorthanded depending on the status of Rose, who left for the locker room toward the end of the second quarter with a right knee contusion. Based on the Fox Sports Detroit broadcast, it isn’t clear how Rose suffered the injury. But his absence left the Pistons very thin at point guard, and will leave them thin at point guard until he returns. 

Delon Wright replaced Hayes in the starting lineup, and two-way guard Saben Lee made his debut midway through the second quarter. Lee quickly made an impression, driving to the rim in transition and getting to the line about 30 seconds after checking in. He finished with four points and two steals in 12 minutes, and could see more soon depending on Rose’s timeline. 

Pistons rookie Saben Lee is a lion on the court: He’ll ‘dunk on anybody’ ]

Bey continues strong rookie season

Allan Houston owns the Pistons’ rookie record for 3-pointers made in a game with six. He’s now the co-owner, as Bey went 6-for-10 from 3 Wednesday. 

Bey continued to perform as one of the better players on the roster during a rookie season that has seen him emerge as the best shooter on the roster. On the season, he’s shooting 19-for-41 (46.3%) from behind the arc. 

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.

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