With both teams resting the majority of their most important players, it’s difficult to say what there is to glean from Detroit’s 112-108 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in the preseason finale at Little Caesars Arena on Friday.
But in the end a win is a win, and those might be hard to come by for Detroit this season. Really, what Detroit was looking for is a sign that some of the players who have played throughout preseason but had struggled were beginning to right the ship.
The Sixers game delivered in that regard. Isaiah Stewart, the second-year big man pegged as this season’s starting center, had by far his best game of the preseason with 17 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks.
Josh Jackson continued his strong preseason play with 14 points thanks to four made threes, and he added six assists to just two turnovers.
Detroit led by as many as 22 points with the Sixers down key contributors Joel Embiid, Danny Green, Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons. The Pistons were led in scoring by Jerami Grant with 24 points. Cade Cunningham missed the game, which means he didn’t appear in any preseason action, while Killian Hayes and Saddiq Bey were also held out.
The Pistons kick off the games that count for real on Oct. 20 against the Chicago Bulls.