Thunder Vs Pistons: Pistons hold off depleted Oklahoma City as Ausar energizes comeback
In a game defined by absences and bursts, thunder vs pistons ended with Detroit reclaiming control late and holding off an Oklahoma City comeback pushed by long-range shooting.
Thunder finished shorthanded
The Thunder entered the game missing a majority of their rotation: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Willians, Isaiah Hartenstein, Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, and Ajay Mitchell were all listed out. Even so, Oklahoma City grabbed a 17-16 advantage halfway through the first quarter and saw seven different Thunder players score in the opening minutes.
Early run built a first-quarter cushion
Oklahoma City's second- and third-string players closed the first quarter on a 15-2 run to lead 34-22. Despite the absences, that stretch kept the Thunder competitive early and forced Detroit to adjust after a sluggish defensive start.
Detroit leaned on Jalen Duren and bench firepower
Detroit found offense through Jalen Duren. Early in the game Duren led his team in field-goal attempts while totaling eight points and three rebounds; by halftime he had surged to 18 points and seven rebounds as the Pistons closed the second on a 10-2 run to take a 58-52 lead. Without both OKC big men, Jaylin Williams was largely left to handle Duren down low, and Oklahoma City didn’t have an answer for him at the rim.
Ausar injects energy after LeVert foul trouble
The Pistons needed a spark in the second quarter and found it from their bench. Ausar came in for Caris LeVert after LeVert picked up his third foul and instantly made an impact on both ends. He blocked a shot pinned against the backboard and then triggered a transition alley-oop to Jalen Duren in the same sequence. The team noted Ausar was able to attack, kick out for open threes, and patiently get to the elbow for a jumper, operating despite the Thunder sagging off his deep shot.
Frontcourt rebounding and midgame adjustments
Ron Holland and Paul Reed supplied extra possessions with offensive rebounding; in one stretch the two of them recorded three straight offensive boards over the Thunder and RoHo finished the sequence with a layup. Detroit extended its edge into the third after Cade executed a chase-down block and Duncan Robinson followed with a transition bucket that pushed the lead to double digits. Newly acquired Kevin Huerter saw minutes before the end of that period.
Fourth-quarter surge nearly erased Detroit's cushion
With a 94-80 lead heading into the final frame, Detroit appeared in command in what the teams billed as the Battle of the #1 Seeds. Oklahoma City shifted to a lot of zone defense, while the Pistons continued to score inside. The Thunder turned to the perimeter: Jaylin Williams attempted 10 three-pointers and finished with a career-high 30 points, and the team shot 18-for-49 from deep overall (Detroit’s season-high in attempts is 43). Those threes landed in the fourth, and an 11-2 Thunder run made it a five-point game with 5: 30 left.
Guards step up; Cade closes it out
Guards Aaron Wiggins, Cason Wallace, and Jarden McCain each contributed at least 20 points as Oklahoma City rallied. Every time the Thunder made it close, Cade would carve up the Oklahoma City defense to keep the game just out of reach for the visitors, helping Detroit preserve the win.
A site message during coverage noted a browser-compatibility warning asking readers to download a modern browser for the best experience; unclear in the provided context whether that message affected live game access. The game itself finished with Detroit beating a depleted Oklahoma City side after the fourth-quarter push.
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