Pistons Keep Rolling, Outlast Warriors on Back-to-Back Behind Grit, Growth, and a Glimpse Toward the Future
The Detroit Pistons just wrapped up a quick West Coast swing with a 2-1 record, and if there’s one thing becoming increasingly clear about this group-it’s that they’re not backing down from any challenge.
On Friday night, it was the Golden State Warriors who got a front-row seat to Detroit’s resilience. Playing on the second night of a back-to-back, with tired legs and little rest, the Pistons didn’t just show up-they showed out. Their 131-124 win in San Francisco wasn’t just another notch in the win column; it was a statement about who this team is becoming.
Detroit is now 7-1 on the season in games played with no rest. That’s not a fluke.
That’s a sign of a team that knows how to lock in, reset quickly, and bring energy regardless of the schedule. And leading the charge once again were Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren, both delivering 20-point double-doubles that powered the Pistons through a high-octane battle.
Cunningham continues to look more and more like the franchise cornerstone Detroit envisioned, and Duren’s presence in the paint-on both ends-has become a stabilizing force. Together, they’ve developed a rhythm that’s giving opponents headaches and giving Detroit fans real reason to believe.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff summed it up well postgame: “That’s who these guys have been.
That’s why we’re in the position we’re in.” Bickerstaff praised his team’s emotional balance-never getting too high, never too low-and that even-keeled approach is translating into consistent, high-level play.
But what made this win even more impressive was how Detroit responded to adversity. Just 24 hours earlier, the Pistons had been outplayed by the Phoenix Suns in a double-digit loss that exposed one of their lingering issues: perimeter shooting. They hit just 21% from deep in that game-a number that simply won’t cut it for a team with playoff aspirations.
Fast forward to the Warriors game, and Detroit flipped the script, connecting on 38% of their threes. Duncan Robinson did what he does best, draining five triples at a 50% clip and giving the Pistons the kind of floor spacing they desperately needed. He’s been Detroit’s most reliable sniper all year, but even the best sharpshooters need help.
That’s where things get interesting. With the trade deadline approaching, Detroit has a decision to make.
Adding another consistent outside shooter could be the missing piece to elevate this offense and open up more space for Cunningham to operate. The Pistons don’t need to reinvent the wheel-they just need one more threat to keep defenses honest.
And that’s not the only roster decision looming. Daniss Jenkins, the second-year guard on a two-way contract, is nearing the point where Detroit will have to convert his deal if they want to keep playing him. Bickerstaff made it clear after the win: Jenkins isn’t going anywhere.
“He’ll be available, there’s no doubt about that,” Bickerstaff said. “I think he’s earned a spot on this roster and he’s proved he can help us win.”
Jenkins has been a quiet revelation. He’s quick with the ball, capable of knocking down shots, and brings a defensive tenacity that fits perfectly with Detroit’s identity.
Whether he’s starting, coming off the bench, or just giving Cunningham a breather, Jenkins adds value-and versatility. His presence allows Bickerstaff to experiment with lineups, slide Cade into different roles, and keep opposing offenses guessing.
If Detroit does make a move at the deadline, it could open up a permanent spot for Jenkins. And based on what we’ve seen, that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.
So where does that leave the Pistons? Still very much a team on the rise, but one with the maturity to learn from losses, the toughness to grind out wins, and the self-awareness to know where they still need to grow. They’re not perfect-but they’re building something real.
And if this road trip was any indication, Detroit isn’t just surviving the grind of the NBA season-they’re starting to thrive in it.