4 months ago
- Pistons
- Published: Jan. 06, 2026, 5:00 a.m.
DETROIT — The Detroit Pistons knowledgeable really overmuch havoc nan New York Knicks’ Jalen Brunson tin origin for an opposing team.
The back-to-back All-NBA Second Team defender was nan driving unit down Detroit’s nonaccomplishment to nan Knicks successful nan postseason past year, averaging 31.5 points and 8.2 assists successful nan six-game series.
But erstwhile Brunson returned to Detroit for nan first clip since nan playoffs connected Monday, he was met pinch an overwhelming protect presence.
The Pistons forced Brunson into a season-high six turnovers and he vanished arsenic a container plus/minus -18 successful nan Knicks’ 31-point conclusion to Detroit. Brunson would lead New York pinch 25 points, but took 21 shots to get there.
After nan game, Pistons defender Cade Cunningham — caller disconnected a 29-point, 13-assist capacity — was asked by reporters if he felt sympathy for Brunson going up against Detroit’s vaunted defense and didn’t connection any.
“No. No, I don’t,” Cunningham said pinch a chuckle.
“I mean, it’s a blessing to person truthful galore high-level defenders connected our squad that we tin springiness guys for illustration that a batch of different looks. I mean, it’s portion of it. (Brunson) knows what it is. When you’re nan number 1 threat arsenic acold arsenic connected nan scouting report, nan team’s gonna propulsion everything they tin astatine you. And we conscionable hap to person a batch of guys to beryllium capable to propulsion astatine you, and they’re really bully astatine it.”
Ausar Thompson was nan caput of nan onslaught against Brunson, a matchup that nan third-year guardant has been studying since their gathering successful nan playoffs past year.
His portion arsenic a superior defender against Brunson is thing Thompson revisits clip and again. The infinitesimal to get immoderate redemption — moreover if conscionable successful nan regular play — brought plentifulness of anticipation.
Thompson roseate to nan situation and made things difficult for Brunson and, crucially, didn’t fto him get to nan foul statement overmuch astatine all.
In past year’s playoff series, Brunson changeable an mean of 9 free throws per game. He only took 3 free throws successful nan crippled connected Monday.
“Jalen Brunson is 1 of our champion scorers successful this league. His craftiness, his deceptiveness, he’s going to trial your discipline. But I thought Ausar did a awesome occupation defending him without fouling and making him gain everything,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “For him to get 25 points connected 21 shots that says a batch astir nan occupation that our guys did connected him. And only 3 free propulsion attempts. That intends we were executing and playing pinch discipline. That’s wherever Ausar is astatine his best.”
Thompson wasn’t unsocial successful taking connected Brunson. Ron Holland and Javonte Green had immoderate opportunities to effort and make life difficult for Brunson disconnected nan bench.
All 3 forced Brunson into turnovers pinch Thompson stealing nan shot disconnected him twice, Green doing truthful erstwhile and Holland drafting an violative foul from him.
“(Detroit’s) physicality connected shot is awesome connected their part,” Brunson said postgame. “But pinch maine and nan turnovers I had, not a batch is going to hap offensively. That’s going to beryllium successful our future.”
Doing each that while only seeing Brunson tie 3 fouls nan full nighttime — Brunson averages 5.5 drawn fouls per crippled — was 1 of Detroit’s much awesome showings of subject for nan season.
The Pistons ne'er want to awkward distant from their style of physicality. Being beingness and giving 1 of nan apical scorers successful nan convention a difficult clip is thing Detroit will beryllium aiming to replicate each play agelong arsenic they stay nan apical squad successful nan Eastern Conference.
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Jacob Richman is simply a sports newsman for MLive.com and covers pro and assemblage teams crossed Michigan. Before joining MLive, Jacob covered assemblage sports successful Texas astatine LoneStarLive.com pinch a attraction connected Texas A&M and...
