Pistons Use Huge Last-Minute Run To Defeat Kings
Things looked bleak for Detroit as they were down 10 points agains the Sacramento Kings on the road with about three minutes to play. It was the second game of a back-to-back after losing by a million against Golden State.
But the young Pistons would not be denied.
Detroit closed out the game on a 13-1 run and escaped Sactown with a win. Kelly Olynyk was a big part of tonight's win as he returned to the lineup for the first time in nearly two months and dropped in 22 points in 22 minutes. Head coach Dwane Casey lauded Olynyk in his return and gave him a lot of credit for the W.
"Huge. We need his experience," Casey said. "He read situations and made plays. When they busted up first options he automatically went to the second option — just his IQ and understanding, offensive rebounds, right place, right time, taking what the game is giving him. All of those were great decisions on his part.
"To win in this league we have to have more of that and our young guys have to grow into that."
That last sentence is exactly right. Guys like Cade Cunningham need to understand what the right play is. As a long, athletic guard, Cunningham should not foul out of games with five minutes left to play. He has to be smarter than that and make the right basketball plays.
Luckily for him, most of the other Pistons did.
