Omari Sankofa II | Detroit Free Press
The Detroit Pistons started strong on Wednesday, shooting 58.3% in the first quarter and leading by 10 early in the second.
But they without Jerami Grant for the first time this season, and they played their third game in four nights. The New Orleans Pelicans were the more energetic team in the second half, and were rewarded.
The Pistons lost to the Pelicans in New Orleans, 128-118. Josh Jackson led the Pistons with 25 points, and Mason Plumlee flirted with a triple double with 21 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and four blocks. Isaiah Stewart added a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Zion Williamson led New Orleans with 32 points.
[ Pistons’ 2021 second-half schedule features home-heavy finish ]
Doumbouya logs second start
The Pistons are deep at forward, and it’s become clear that even with Blake Griffin away from the team, Doumbouya is facing stiff competition for playing time.
Jerami Grant missed his first game of the season due to rest, clearing the way for Doumbouya to log his second start of the season. The second-year forward had three points, four assists and a rebound in 23 minutes. He only made one of his five shot attempts — a rainbow 3-pointer in the first quarter — and his overall performance was a mixed bag.
He started strong, recording three assists and going 1-for-2 in the opening quarter. His defense was solid. But he had two tough defensive matchups in Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, and the fouls piled up. He picked up his fourth and fifth in short order midway through the third quarter, and Dwane Casey promptly checked him out of the game.
Plumlee goes off against the Pelicans, again
Plumlee got his first triple-double against the Pelicans last week, finishing with 17 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in Detroit’s 123-110 win. The game encapsulated everything that’s made Plumlee one of the Pistons’ most reliable and versatile players this season. He’s an effective rebounder and screener, and among the NBA’s best-passing bigs. The Pistons run much of their offense through Plumlee.
The veteran big man must like the matchup against New Orleans, making nine of his 10 shot attempts in 32 minutes. His four blocks were a season-high.
Lee’s hot streak continues
With Delon Wright out of the rotation with a right groin sprain, rookie Saben Lee has flourished. In his previous two games before Wednesday, he scored a combined 33 points on 12-18 shooting and displayed big strides forward as a playmaker.
The two-way point guard continued his run on Wednesday with 13 points, four assists and two steals in 22 minutes, making five of his eight attempts. He also made his lone 3-point attempt, making him 4-for-4 from the line in his last two games after going 0-2 in his previous nine. The rookie is making rapid improvement and has provided capable point guard play as the Pistons wait for Wright and Killian Hayes to return.
Stewart shows off a new trick
Stewart has been one of the NBA’s best rookie rebounders this season, and he picked up his third double-double on Wednesday with 11 points, 10 rebounds and two steals.
His most impressive play came in the first quarter, when he ran a fastbreak by himself and Euro-stepped past the Pelicans defense, drawing a foul on the finish. After the 2020 NBA draft, general manager Troy Weaver said Stewart’s feet was one of the things that stood out during the evaluation process.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. The Free Press has started a new digital subscription model. Here’s how you can gain access to our most exclusive Pistons content. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.