The Detroit Pistons got a harsh reminder Thursday night that no lead is safe in the NBA - not even when you're a 16½-point favorite at home against one of the league’s worst teams. The Washington Wizards came into Little Caesars Arena with just 14 wins and walked out with No. 15, stunning a Pistons squad that saw All-Star center Jalen Duren exit early with knee soreness.
That loss was a gut punch for a team that’s been cruising atop the Eastern Conference standings. At 37-13, Detroit has looked every bit like a contender this season, on pace for 61 wins and enjoying its best campaign since the 2005-06 era. But Thursday’s stumble - paired with a quiet trade deadline - raised eyebrows and maybe even a few red flags.
Ivey Debuts in Chicago
Meanwhile, north of the border, Jaden Ivey was making his debut in a new jersey. The Pistons’ former top-five pick suited up for the Chicago Bulls for the first time, starting and logging a season-high 33 minutes in a 123-107 loss to the Toronto Raptors.
Ivey, who was sent to Chicago in exchange for Kevin Huerter earlier this week, looked comfortable in his new digs. Wearing No. 31, he put up 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting, including 3-for-5 from beyond the arc. He added six assists, four rebounds, three steals, and two turnovers - a well-rounded line that showed flashes of the dynamic guard Detroit once hoped would be a long-term backcourt partner to Cade Cunningham.
His first bucket? A slick right-handed hanging layup - the kind of aggressive, downhill move that made him such a tantalizing prospect coming out of Purdue.
But Ivey’s journey this season has been anything but smooth. After returning from a broken left fibula and right knee surgery, his role in Detroit shrank dramatically.
He averaged just 8.2 points and 1.6 assists in 16.8 minutes per game, appearing in 33 contests but starting only two. Now, with a fresh opportunity in Chicago - and restricted free agency looming this summer - Ivey has a chance to reset his trajectory.
Bulls Reboot at the Deadline
Chicago’s roster looks a lot different than it did a week ago. The Bulls moved on from guards Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, sending them to Charlotte and Minnesota, respectively.
Veteran center Nikola Vučević was dealt to Boston. And on Thursday, they were without starting point guard Josh Giddey, who sat out the loss in Toronto.
That opened the door for Ivey to step right into the starting lineup. Whether he holds onto that spot remains to be seen, especially with Anfernee Simons also joining the fold. Once Giddey returns, head coach Billy Donovan will have decisions to make in the backcourt - but Ivey’s debut gave the Bulls something to think about.
Chicago’s next game is Saturday night at home against Denver. And just after the All-Star break, they’ll host the Pistons on February 21 in what’s now a must-watch matchup - the final meeting of the season between the Central Division rivals.
Huerter’s Quiet Pistons Debut
Back in Detroit, Kevin Huerter made his Pistons debut against Washington, but it was a quiet one. The 27-year-old logged just six minutes in the first half and went scoreless on 0-for-2 shooting - both misses coming from deep.
The Pistons as a whole struggled from three, going just 9-for-33 (27%) from beyond the arc. Duncan Robinson did what he could, hitting 6-of-15, but he didn’t get much help.
That’s been a consistent issue all season long. Detroit ranks in the bottom third of the NBA in three-point makes, attempts, and percentage.
Outside of Robinson, none of the starters are shooting above the league-average 36% from deep.
A Deadline Without Fireworks
Despite holding a strong position in the East and having assets to work with - including expiring contracts, draft capital, and a $14.3 million traded player exception set to expire this summer - the Pistons chose to stand pat at the deadline.
Second-year president of basketball operations Trajan Langdon is playing the long game. The front office wants to collect more data in the playoffs before making any major moves. It’s a cautious, calculated approach - and one that worked last year to a certain extent.
But with expectations rising and the East more competitive than ever, there’s risk in standing still. The Pistons are good - really good - but Thursday’s loss to Washington showed just how quickly things can unravel, especially if injuries pile up or the three-point shooting continues to lag.
Langdon and his staff are betting on internal growth and postseason evaluation. Whether that bet pays off may depend on how much they learn - and how far this group can go - once the playoffs arrive.