Heartbreak in Big D: Pistons Fall to Mavericks 116–114 in Overtime
I’ve been on a bit of a mission lately — trying to convince people that the Pistons are worth their time, that this version of the NBA isn’t what many assume it to be. Fast, competitive, physical, connected. Not just highlight reels and empty possessions.
If anyone tuned into this game to form their opinion, though, I can understand the skepticism.
What I hear most from NBA skeptics is familiar: no defense, too many threes. And on this night, the shooting numbers didn’t help the argument. Detroit and Dallas combined to shoot just 11-for-60 from beyond the arc, barely cracking 18 percent. That kind of futility can be a tough watch — even for fans who appreciate the grind.
That said, this game still had plenty to offer.
Despite the bricks, the whistles, and the frustration, it turned into a compelling, back-and-forth battle — one where the Pistons showed real fight, erased a massive deficit, and pushed a road game into overtime before falling 116–114 to the Mavericks.
It wasn’t clean. It wasn’t pretty, and coach JB Bickerstaff had much to say in his postgame.
Stat Capsule 🏀
Final (OT): Mavericks 116, Pistons 114
Detroit Leaders
- 🏀 Cade Cunningham: 29 PTS, 10 REB, 9 AST
- 💪 Jalen Duren: 17 PTS, 13 REB (10 OREB)
Team Shooting
- 🎯 FG: 39%
- ❄️ 3PT: 6-for-33 (18%)
- 🧱 FT: 70%
Context Notes
- 📉 Pistons erased an 18-point deficit to force OT
- 🚨 Ausar Thompson ejected in 2nd quarter
- 🩼 Duncan Robinson exited early with a knee injury
How the Game Turned
For much of the night, this one looked like it was slipping away.
Dallas built an 18-point lead late in the third quarter, controlling the tempo and capitalizing on Detroit’s cold shooting. With around four minutes left in the period, the Mavericks appeared firmly in command.
That’s when the Pistons flipped the script.
Detroit ramped up the defensive pressure, attacked the glass, and started winning the possession battle. The shots still weren’t falling consistently from deep, but the Pistons leaned into their identity — attacking the paint, creating second chances, and forcing Dallas into mistakes.
Slowly, possession by possession, the deficit shrank.
By the time regulation ended, the Pistons had erased the entire 18-point hole and forced overtime — a testament to their resilience and conditioning, especially on the road.
Cade Drives the Comeback
While this wasn’t a triple-double night, Cade Cunningham was still the engine behind everything Detroit did late.
Cunningham finished with:
- 29 points
- 10 rebounds
- 9 assists
He controlled pace, initiated offense, and repeatedly got Detroit into quality looks when things threatened to stall. Cade tied the game in overtime with under two minutes remaining, keeping Detroit alive when it felt like the moment might slip away.
Jalen Duren was a force inside, posting 17 points and 13 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards that kept multiple possessions alive during the comeback. His physicality was one of the biggest reasons Detroit even had a chance to steal this game.
The Final 90 Seconds
After Anthony Davis put Dallas ahead 116–114 with 1:32 left in overtime, the game froze.
Neither team scored again.
Detroit had chances — good ones. Missed jumpers. Offensive rebounds. A late floater from Cade. A put-back opportunity from Duren.
Nothing dropped.
The Pistons missed five shots in the final minute, and despite winning the hustle categories for much of the night, couldn’t find the basket when it mattered most.
Sometimes the rim just refuses to cooperate.
With three seconds remaining, Isaiah Stewart was fouled and stepped to the line with a chance to put the Pistons ahead. He missed the first free throw but knocked down the second to tie the game. The Mavericks had one final look, but Klay Thompson’s baseline floater rattled out, sending the game to overtime.
The Ausar Thompson Ejection — and Bickerstaff’s Response
The game took a sharp turn in the second quarter following the ejection of Ausar Thompson, a moment that drew pointed criticism from head coach J.B. Bickerstaff after the game.
Bickerstaff questioned the objectivity of crew chief John Goble, citing a comment he said was made during the game: “A referee makes a comment to me about night-by-night, this is how our interactions are. That says to me that the referee is coming into the game not being objective.”
His frustration stemmed from a series of interactions involving Goble. Bickerstaff said he received a technical foul at halftime despite not directing any words toward the official, explaining that he was simply trying to de-escalate the situation by pulling Cade Cunningham away from the officials. “That’s my job — to get my player away from the ref and get us back to halftime so we can have the conversations that we need to have,” he said.
On Thompson’s ejection, Bickerstaff was especially firm, disputing the idea that his player initiated contact. “If you take a look at the play where he ejects [Thompson], he steps towards [Thompson] — that’s where the minimal contact happens, where he steps towards him and initiates it,” Bickerstaff said.
The coach also pointed to a moment late in overtime, saying Detroit was denied a timeout after Jalen Duren secured an offensive rebound. “I called timeout. That same referee is standing next to me and does not award me the timeout,” Bickerstaff noted.
Despite the pointed remarks, Bickerstaff was careful to frame his comments within a larger context. “This game is not about the referees,” he said. “We’re going to play physical, we walk that line. But all we’re asking for is fairness.”
A Shooting Night to Forget
Detroit finished the night shooting:
- 39% from the field
- 18% from three (6-for-33)
Dallas wasn’t much better from deep (19%), but the Mavericks made up the difference at the free-throw line and with timely interior scoring late.
This wasn’t a stylistic collapse. It was a cold night paired with missed margins — and the NBA punishes those.
Looking Ahead
This one hurts, but it’s not a warning sign.
Detroit showed:
- composure
- defensive toughness
- and the ability to climb out of a massive hole on the road
That matters.
The Pistons return home knowing they let one slip — but also knowing they went punch-for-punch after falling flat for two full quarters. Good teams learn from games like this. Great teams respond to them.
This group will get another chance soon. This time, it’s against the Charlotte Hornets at the LCA. Tip-off is at 7:30 pm.
Did you think Thompson’s ejection was deserved? 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.
