The Pistons’ final preseason tune-up wasn’t clean, but it got the job done.
Detroit had to dig out of a seven-point halftime deficit against a Toronto team missing most of its regular rotation, then closed hard enough to escape with a 129-125 win. The numbers told the story of a game played at full speed but with plenty of slippage on both sides: the Pistons shot 58% as a team and moved the ball well with 29 assists, while the Raptors kept hanging around thanks to a deep group of reserves who refused to fold.
Cade Cunningham set the tone for Detroit with 18 points, one rebound, seven assists and one steal while shooting 66.7% from the floor. Jalen Duren gave the Pistons another efficient night with 14 points, three rebounds, one assist, two steals and one block on 66.7% shooting. On the other side, Malachi Smith led Toronto with 24 points, seven rebounds, three assists and one steal on 44.4% shooting, and Trayce Jackson-Davis added 23 points, three rebounds and one steal while hitting 80.0% of his shots.
Duren’s return remains one of the most encouraging developments for Detroit. After a summer of ugly and bitter contract negotiations, he re-signed on a four-year, $200 million deal and missed training camp and the opening preseason games because it happened so late.
He debuted Wednesday against the Timberwolves with 24 points in 15 minutes, and even though he wasn’t quite as sharp in this one, he still looked the part. The movement stood out: easy pace, better footwork, and a player who seemed to have taken a step forward despite the shortened ramp-up.
Detroit’s defense, though, was a much different story.
The Pistons were one of the league’s best defensive teams last season, allowing 109.7 points per game and finishing top three in that category. That standard wasn’t there tonight.
Toronto scored 45 points in the fourth quarter alone and repeatedly found space when Ausar Thompson was off the court, a reminder of how important perimeter defense remains for this group. The foul count was even more glaring: 35 personals from Detroit, which led to 46 Raptors free-throw attempts and a 39-for-46 night at the line for Toronto.
On the offensive end, the Pistons looked more polished than they did a year ago. The spacing was cleaner, the ball movement sharper, and the decisions came faster.
Duren and John Collins gave the frontcourt a useful mix of rim pressure and floor spacing, and that combination opened things up for everyone else. It wasn’t just one hot shooting night; it looked like a more functional structure.
Toronto, meanwhile, walked away with something of its own. With starters sitting, the Raptors still pushed Detroit to the edge and got major production from the bench and supporting cast.
As many as six players reached double figures: Nimari Burnett, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Alijah Martin, Malachi Smith, Tyson Degenhart and Tyreke Key. The result didn’t go their way, but the depth was impossible to miss, and it made Toronto far more competitive than the lineup on paper might have suggested.
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Pistons Rookie Just Made JB Bickerstaffs Rotation Decision Harder
The Pistons wrapped up the preseason with a win over Torontos backups, and the final tune-up offered one more reminder that the back end of the roster has become a real competition. Ausar Thompson continued to flash on offense, but it was rookie Ebuka Okorie who drew the attention with a 14-point burst in just nine minutes, the kind of quick-hit scoring that can change how a staff thinks about its guard depth.
Daniss Jenkins still looks like the likely opening-night backup point guard, but performances like this make the discussion a little less settled than it seemed a week ago. Okorie showed enough offensive juice to at least make JB Bickerstaff keep him in the conversation, especially if the Pistons want more creation from that spot early in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Rotation Battle Is Already Creating Pressure On One Newcomer
The Pistons are still sorting out their rotation with the regular season approaching, and the competition is already tightening in the backcourt. John Collins has helped himself by playing efficiently and showing real chemistry with Cade Cunningham, while Jalen Durens strong preseason and new five-year deal have only reinforced how central he is to Detroits plans.
Kevin Huerter, meanwhile, is the newcomer feeling the squeeze. Detroit has a crowded shooting guard mix with Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Joe also in the picture, and that leaves Huerter fighting for a clear lane to consistent minutes as the staff weighs fit, spacing and trust before the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face One Big Test As New-Look Lineup Meets Boston
The Pistons wrapped up preseason with a win over the Raptors and now turn to the part that will tell them the most about their new-look roster: a season opener against Boston. Detroits offseason reshuffle gives the lineup a different feel, with John Collins expected to step into the starting five in place of Tobias Harris, and the front office has clearly been trying to add more spacing around the core.
A better night from long range is part of the plan, with Collins and Isaiah Joe both positioned to help the Pistons in that area. Jalen Duren also enters the season carrying momentum after a strong preseason and a fresh contract, and his role figures to be central as Detroit tries to measure itself against one of the leagues standard-bearers right away. The Celtics will offer an early read on how far this group has come, and how much more work still needs to be done. [Read more 🡒]