Pistons Push the Clippers to the Brink — Even Short-Handed
It didn’t go down as a win in the standings — but it sure didn’t feel like a loss in spirit.
Down four of their top six rotation players, the Detroit Pistons walked into Saturday night knowing the odds. No Cade Cunningham (wrist). No Tobias Harris (hip). No Jalen Duren (ankle). And no Isaiah Stewart, coming off a career-high 31 but sidelined by illness.
And yet — for most of the night — Detroit led.
It took the Los Angeles Clippers nearly three quarters to fully wake up and realize they were in a real fight. Once they did, pride and star power finally tipped the scales, sending Detroit to a 98–92 loss at Little Caesars Arena.
But make no mistake: this was a statement game — just not the kind that shows up in the win column.
The Reality Check — and the Respect Earned
There’s no sugarcoating the ending. Once Kawhi Leonard and James Harden locked in late, the Clippers went on a decisive run that Detroit simply couldn’t match with a rotation full of bench pieces and call-ups.
That’s the NBA.
But until that moment?
Detroit absolutely believed they were going to win.
The Pistons played with edge, confidence, and — maybe most impressive — zero fear. This wasn’t a team hoping to survive. This was a team attacking, defending, and daring the Clippers to take the game from them.
And eventually, they did.
John Collins Kept the Clippers Alive
Before the Clippers’ stars fully asserted themselves, there was one steady thorn Detroit never solved: John Collins.
Collins was a problem all night, finishing with 25 points and repeatedly stretching the floor by knocking down timely threes. With Detroit’s frontcourt thinned out, the Pistons struggled to find a clean matchup for him. Every time Detroit looked ready to create separation, Collins answered — hitting from the perimeter, attacking closeouts, and keeping Los Angeles within striking distance.
In many ways, Collins was the bridge that allowed the Clippers to hang around long enough for Kawhi Leonard and company to eventually flip the switch late. Without his shot-making, this game might never have reached that point.
Ron Holland II: The Attitude of This Team
If one player embodied the Pistons’ mindset, it was Ron Holland II.
Fearless. Relentless. Unbothered by names on the other jersey.
Holland attacked the rim, crashed the glass, defended with intensity, and brought the kind of energy that instantly lifts a building. He finished with 16 points and 6 rebounds, but the box score doesn’t fully capture his impact.
He scrapped for everything.
He didn’t back down.
And he’s quickly becoming a fan favorite for exactly that reason.
That edge? That’s real — and it’s contagious.
Contributions Everywhere — Just Not Enough Shooting
Detroit didn’t lose this game because of effort.
They lost it because of math.
The Pistons shot a brutal 8-for-35 from three (23%) — and even worse, 2-for-24 from a core group of perimeter players:
- Jaden Ivey: 0-5
- Ron Holland II: 1-7
- Caris LeVert: 0-3
- Marcus Sasser: 0-4
- Javonte Green: 1-5
That’s not just cold — that’s crippling.
If Detroit shoots even 30% from deep, they likely walk away with the upset. Instead, empty possessions piled up, allowing the Clippers to hang around until their stars took over.
This isn’t new — and it’s something that has to be addressed.
For everything Holland brings, the three-point shot simply isn’t part of his game yet. Asking him to live out there right now hurts spacing and efficiency. Better shot selection has to come — either through development or restraint.
Depth on Display — Credit Where It’s Due
Still, the bigger takeaway was unmistakable:
This team is deep.
Detroit got contributions from everywhere. Guys stepped into expanded roles, moved the ball, defended hard, and competed for 48 minutes. That doesn’t happen by accident — it happens because of structure.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff deserves credit. So does Trajan Langdon, who helped assemble a roster capable of surviving nights like this without folding.
Even George Blaha and Greg Kelser sounded impressed — and they’ve seen everything.
Perspective Matters
Yes, it’s a loss.
But consider the context:
- Down four key rotation players
- Facing a healthy veteran contender
- Leading for most of the night
- Losing only when superstar talent finally asserted itself
That’s not embarrassing.
That’s revealing.
It shows what this group believes it can be — and why the rest of the league is starting to notice.
Stat Capsule 🏀
Final Score: Clippers 98, Pistons 92
Key Absences (DET):
- Cade Cunningham (wrist)
- Tobias Harris (hip)
- Jalen Duren (ankle)
- Isaiah Stewart (illness)
Notable Performances:
- Ron Holland II: 16 points, 6 rebounds
- Tolu Smith: 14 rebounds, 9 points
- Duncan Robinson: 20 points (all in 1st half)
Team Shooting:
- Pistons 3PT: 8-for-35 (23%)
- Pistons core shooters: 2-for-24
Bigger Picture
This wasn’t sustainable — and it can’t be.
Detroit needs bodies back. You can’t ask your bench to go toe-to-toe with full-strength NBA lineups every night. But if there was ever proof that this team has real depth, real belief, and real culture, this was it.
They didn’t pull the upset.
But they earned respect.
Question for the Fans 🤔
Does this game say more about the Pistons’ depth — or their urgent need to fix perimeter shooting before April? Drop a comment below or join the conversation in the Pistons Hardwood Hub — where fans break down every game, every angle.
Info gathered from team reports, pressers & trusted media outlets — the way we always do it at Mitten Sports Talk.
