Pistons stun Warriors at the very last second, 122-119, literally
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT PhilBoxing.com Thu, 05 Jan 2023
The team with the worst record, 10-30, just took down reigning and defending NBA champions, Wednesday night.
Well, the title was not on the line but it probably felt like it for the visiting Pistons who untied the 119-all game, and then zapped the streaking Warriors, 122-119.
Saddiq Bey treated the sharp shooting Warriors with a dose of their own medicine, sinking a three-pointed-dagger with one second left, preventing overtime, thereby pumping the brakes on Golden State’s five-game win streak.
Klay Thompson posted another beauty with 30 points and an erratic Jordan Poole added 24, but the Warriors failed in their comeback bid, something they have pulled off in 5-of-8 games this recent home stand stretch.
Thompson made a layup late in the fourth to put the Warriors up 99-98 for their first time since early in the second quarter.
The Pistons retaliated with a 7-0 run, but the Warriors held on.
Klay scored 17 points in the fourth quarter including a vintage Thompson trey to tie it 119-all, with 2.1 seconds left.
In a heartbreaking sequence for the Warriors, though uplifting for the Pistons, Jordan Poole slipped and turned the ball over to an awaiting ex-Warrior Alec Burks who negated the Warriors’ chance to win. With 4 seconds left, Anthony Lamb’s foul sent Killian Hayes to the line who sank 2 free throws to push the Pistons up 119-116.
The Pistons were not to be denied as they snuff a very late Warriors rally, with Piston forward Bey’s dramatic catch-and-release 3-Pointer after a beautiful inbound pass from Killian Hayes, all within the last second. A review confirmed Bey made the game-winner in time.
As a team, Detroit made 45-of-92 baskets (48.8% FG), 16-of-36 treys (44.4% 3-PT), made more steals (9 to 3), turned the ball over lesser (10 to 14), had more fast break points (17 to 13), and led by as much as 10 points, and made the Warriors play catch-up, all night.
B. Bogdanovic led the Pistons with 29, followed by J. Duren 18, S. Bey 17, former Warrior Alec Burks 15, I. Stewart 13, J. Ivey 12, K. Hayes 9, H. Diallo 6, and R. McGruder 3 points.
It was another heartbreaker for the Jekyll-and-Hyde Warriors who made 45-of-87 baskets (51.7% FG), 15-of-40 treys (37.5% 3-PT), more blocks (4 to 1), more points after turnovers (22 to 14), was more efficient on the foul line 93.3% (Warrior 14 FT-points) to 69.6% (Pistons with 16 FT-points), and briefly led by 1 point.
The Warriors squad were still without Steph Curry (partial shoulder separation), Andrew Wiggins (adductor strain), James Wiseman and Jonathan Kuminga (ankle injuries), JaMychal Green (health and safety protocol)- all were at the sideline cheering for their team.
Every Warrior scored— Ty Jerome with 18, Anthony Kamb 17, Kevin Looney and Moses Moody 8 each, Patrick Baldwin, Jr. and Dinte DiVincenzo 5 a piece, and Draymond Green who was ejected at the 1:24 mark with 4 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists.
It was a scintillating game to watch with every player scoring, and the crowd sent home disappointed by Saddiq Bey’s late-night heroics.
The Warriors, particularly Jordan Poole, will be looking to bounce back when they host the Orlando Magic this coming Saturday— a game I look forward to covering live at Chase Center despite the raging storms battering the State of California.
Upcoming:
Detroit Pistons (11-30): Visit San Antonio Spurs on Friday night to wrap-up a five-game road
Golden State Warriors (20-19): Host the Orlando Magic on Saturday night
Note of Appreciation:
Photos, stats and video are courtesy of the NBA and brought to you by PhilBoxing.com.
