The Detroit Pistons earned their first three wins with plenty of offense, while their fourth featured a stronger defensive showing.
The Pistons hope to combine the elements in their first NBA Cup game on Friday when they visit the winless Brooklyn Nets.
Detroit and Brooklyn are in Group A in the Eastern Conference along with the Toronto Raptors, Orlando Magic and Milwaukee Bucks.
Detroit is attempting to win five of its first six games for the first time since 2015-16 after earning a 97-89 victory over the visiting Charlotte Hornets on the second night of a back-to-back Wednesday.
After getting outscored 63-25 in the second and third quarters of its 111-97 loss to the host New York Knicks on Tuesday, Detroit allowed 38 points in the second half against Charlotte.
The Pistons allowed 43.7 percent shooting and have yet to allow an opponent to shoot better than 45.5 percent from the floor this season. They have held opponents to 31.6 percent shooting from 3-point range in the past three games, and they forced a season-high 25 turnovers against Charlotte, which led to 21 points.
“We got familiar with ourselves again,” Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Defensively, I thought we were elite, which translated to some easy opportunities on the offensive end. That’s where we get our mojo. When it’s gritty, when it’s nasty, that’s where our guys thrive. Early in the season, off summer vacation, it takes a little time to find that. That was Pistons basketball to me.”
In addition to defense, the Pistons continued to shoot well from deep. Detroit made 9 of 37 3-point attempts (24.3 percent) Tuesday but rebounded to shoot 39.4 percent (13 of 33) Wednesday. For the season, it is shooting 37.9 percent from behind the arc after shooting 35.6 percent on 3s last season.
Cade Cunningham is shooting 36.4 percent on 3s. He went 4-for-9 Wednesday en route to his first 30-point game of the season.
The Nets are attempting to avoid their fifth 0-5 start in franchise history. Last season, they dropped their first seven games on the way to a 20-62 record.
Brooklyn is hoping to build on the positives from its most competitive game after taking the Celtics to overtime Tuesday. The Nets lost 125-124 on Jayson Tatum game-winner two days after an uncompetitive 136-109 home loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Before Tatum’s 17-footer at the buzzer, rookie Mikel Brown Jr. scored a career-high 17 points, including a tying 3-pointer with one second left in regulation to force overtime. Brown also attempted a layup that missed instead of waiting to get fouled on the possession before Tatum’s game-winner.
“He’ll learn from it,” Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said. “I just told him, and he was not happy with himself. It’s a lot but the kid also was a reason why we were there. He got it going, and he showed, you know, that when the big lights are bright and they’re on, he can perform.”
Michael Porter Jr. led the Nets with 27 points, including six 3s. Julius Randle added 24 for his third 20-point game.
Egor Demin was diagnosed with a bruised right leg. He will be reevaluated next week. Brown is still on a minutes limit after playing 28 on Tuesday. He was 5 of 17 from the field against the Celtics.
–Field Level Media
