The Detroit Pistons outscored the Sacramento Kings 114-113 thanks to 31 points in the last seven minutes, including a game-winning four-pointer from Jaden Ivey with 3.1 seconds left.
Malik Beasley’s three threes in the fourth quarter, which gave the Pistons a puncher’s chance if they could dig down and earn a stop or two, were the driving force behind their comeback. With 1:04 left, the score was 109-108 as they made those vital stops and reduced the advantage to one on a Beasley stepback three.
Trey Lyles’ off-the-mark three was forced by Detroit’s clever, active defense. After receiving the ball, Cade Cunningham tried an iso in the paint but failed to make a perfect 11-foot jumper.
De’Aaron Fox was given the ball as a result. When Ivey tore the hearts out of the Kings, Fox, who had surged in the fourth quarter and appeared to be the game’s savior, calmly made a filthy 14-foot high-arcing jumper to stretch the lead back to three 111-108 with 19 seconds left.
The Pistons chose to move quickly and use the open lane to make an easy driving two for Ivey, who made the connection with ease, rather than waiting for a three. Kevin Heuerter gave the Kings two free throws, and with just over ten seconds remaining, the Pistons tried to equalize the score with a three-pointer.
For the game-winning shot, Detroit tried to put the ball in Beasley’s hands, but the Kings clearly had a defensive strategy that focused on everybody but Beasley. Ivey tried to get the shot up by sidestepping the collapsing defender after Beasley passed to him in the corner.
Ivey absorbed the contact, released it, double-clutched, and sunk the shot. The Pistons subsequently won their third straight game as he went to the charity stripe and made the game-winning free shot. Beasley scored 22 points off the bench, while Ivey ended with 19.
This is the team’s first winning run of three games since 2021.
Cade Cunningham led the Pistons with 33 points and 10 assists. Due to Detroit’s lackluster play on both ends, Cunningham did the majority of his damage in the first half, and Cade put the team on his back.
Fox led the Kings with 26 points, up from 5 at the beginning of the second quarter.
Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento’s standout center, was absent due to sickness, but with Trey Lyles, who needs Sabonis?
A true Pistons killer, Lyles contributed eight rebounds, four three-pointers, and twenty points.
