The Slow Build Continues

The Detroit Pistons continue their long, slow build back to respectability. The team has had a rough go this season with an NBA record 28 losses in a row followed by a win and then a nine-game losing streak. On Monday, the Pistons shipped out forwards Marvin Bagley III and Isaiah Livers and two second round picks and grabbed Danilo Gallinari and Mike Muscala from the Wizards to continue to try and rebuild their roster with the types of players that reflect head coach Mo Williams’ style of play. Both Gallinari and Muscala are more comfortable shooting jump shots on the perimeter rather than playing in the paint. The trading partners met on Monday night with the Pistons picked up just their fourth win of the season in a 129-117 victory over the Wizards. Alec Burks scored a career-high 34 points and Jalen Duren added 20 points and 19 rebounds to propel the Pistons to victory.

“We’ve had an unreal losing streak this year, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen our guys consistently go in the tank,” Pistons coach Monty Williams said. “Everyone’s all in and wants to see each other do well.”

The Detroit Pistons come into this game with the worst-record in the NBA and near the bottom of most categories. The Pistons are 26th in scoring offense this season. They are 17th in field goal percentage and just 28th in 3-point field goal percentage. They are also last in the NBA in 3-point field goals per game. Defensively, the Pistons are 27th in scoring defense this season. They are 26th in field goal defense and 23rd in 3-point defense. On the glass, the Pistons are 23rd in total rebounds per game and 29th in turnovers.

The Minnesota Timberwolves travel to Detroit to take on the lowly Pistons on Wednesday night. The Timberwolves continue to lead the Western Conference with a record of 28-11 and have won two straight games. The Pistons have the NBA’s worst record at just 4-36 overall but did pick up a win in their last game.

Winning Wolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves remain atop the Western Conference standings as they head into Detroit on Wednesday riding a two-game winning streak. The Wolves won their 28th game on Sunday with a 109-105 win over the red-hot Clippers. Anthony Edwards led the way with 33 points, including 20 points in the third quarter alone. Rudy Gobert also had a strong night with 15 points and 18 rebounds and kept the Clippers at bay at the rim all night.

“Getting all the rebounds and making sure they don’t get finishes at the rim, he was great tonight,” Edwards said. “He was up, blocking mid-ranges and stuff like that. Defensive Player of the Year, for sure.”

The T-Wolves hope to keep up their winning ways on Wednesday night in Detroit. The Wolves are 20th in the NBA in scoring offense this season. They are eighth in field goal percentage and 7th in 3-point field goal percentage. The Wolves are 20th in the NBA in 3-point field goals per game. The Wolves have been dominant on the defensive end this season led by Gobert. They are ranked first in scoring defense this season and first in opposing team’s shooting percentage. The Wolves are als0 7th in 3-point defense. On the glass, the Wolves are ranked 17th in the NBA in total rebounds. They are 27th in turnovers per game this season.