Three quick observations from Tuesday night’s 119-100 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at Little Caesars Arena
TURNOVER TROUBLES – The Pistons have led the NBA in bench scoring for most of the season, averaging 41.6 points through the first 69 games. But it wasn’t hard to guess that it was going to be difficult matching that average in Game 70 given that most of the players who contributed to the league-leading number were either in the starting lineup or unavailable. The Pistons got Josh Jackson back after he’d missed the previous four games due to oral surgery and he moved into the starting lineup. But Frank Jackson, the bellwether of the bench since joining the rotation 30 games ago, was out with a sprained ankle – as was Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee, Wayne Ellington, Cory Joseph, Dennis Smith Jr. and Rodney McGruder. Turnovers – 15 in the first half alone, seven of them charged to Jackson – dug a big hole for the Pistons, who trailed by 22 at halftime. They opened
Wolves thump Pistons, continue to value winning over draft positioning The Wolves said they would try to win and they did that decisively. May 11, 2021 10:23pm Text size Copy shortlink:
DETROIT - Toward the end of his media session Tuesday, Karl-Anthony Towns was again stumping for Anthony Edwards to be the rookie of the year. As Towns was talking, Edwards wandered over and made sure to point out to Towns his plus-minus for the night: plus-30. Plus 30? Popeyes on me then . We ll get you some of them fries, Towns said to Edwards, who has professed his love for postgame chicken and fries multiple times.
With the Wolves veering toward the sixth-worst record in the league after being the worst team in the NBA for much of the season, here is the lottery outlook.
Game Preview #69: Wolves at Pistons
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Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images
Two teams who have the 4th worst records in the NBA face off tonight in Detroit, MI. We got ourselves a
NICE one tonight with lotto implications at stake!
Game Info
When: 6:00 pm CT
TV: Bally Sports North PLUS
Radio: 830 WCCO AM Radio
What To Watch For
Coach Finch’s
Rubio-Russell starting backcourt is now 1-1 after their Florida road trip. The peanut gallery has long been skeptical of that pairing and many anticipate Ricky Rubio not even being on the team next year (
Not me though). To silence these murmurs, developing a strong chemistry between the 2 guards will surely do the trick.
How to bet: Place legal, online bets at BetMGM Sportsbook.
Game notes: The Pistons have three games remaining, all at home. They enter Tuesday second in the NBA draft lottery. The T wolves are also a top-5 lottery team, making this game key in the race to the bottom. Minnesota has won six of 10 and is led by former top draft picks Karl-Anthony Towns (No. 1 in 2015), D Angelo Russell (No. 2 in 2015) and Anthony Edwards (No. 1 in 2020). Minnesota owes its first-round pick to Golden State if it falls outside the top 3 of the June 22 lottery. . The Pistons are down at least seven players, including Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee and Cory Joseph.