December 1, 2022
Christmas came early for the 18,106 fans at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. Despite not having their best player Cade Cunningham and facing 8-point odds, per Caesars Sports Book, the Pistons not only kept up with the Mavericks, but outdueled them in a thrilling overtime, 131-125.
Detroit looked much better than their 5-18 record coming into the game that featured 10 ties in regulation.
Tonight, both teams were statistically equal in assists, steals, points after turnovers, field goals and three-pointers made. Detroit controlled both boards and outrebounded the Mavs 52-30, and scored more points in the paint, 54 to 44.
SF Bojan Bogdanovic paved the way and scored 30 points (4 rebounds and 4 assists).
With 22.6 left in regulation, the Mavs tied the game 117-all as a result of Maxi Kleber’s dish to Reggie Bullock who made the deuce, thereby, sending the game into overtime.
The hometown hero of the night was Killian Hayes who contributed 8 of his 22 points in overtime.
With 1:35 left in the game, the Mavs’ Christian Wood’s slam dunk tied the game for the eleventh time at 125-all.
Hayes retaliated with 2 three-pointers with 1:15 left and another at the 41.6 second mark to put the game away.
As a team, Detroit made 51 of 94 buckets (54.3% FG) and connected 15 of 35 from afar (42.9% 3-PT).
As a team, the Mavs shot well connecting on 46 of 86 baskets (53.5% FG) and a workmanlike 19 for 46 beyond the outer arc (41.3% 3-PT).
Luka Doncic led the Mavs, as he normally does, scoring 35 points, 5 rebounds and 10 assists. He scored 20 points in the first half for an NBA-best 12th time this season. Doncic set a new season-high with his sixth 3-pointer early in the third quarter to pass Brad Davis (7,623 career points) for seventh on the Mavericks' all-time scoring list (as reported by NBA.com and the Dallas Morning News).
Tim Hardawaw, Jr. scored 26 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists— with his father and former GSW great Tim Hardaway, Sr. watching from court side.
However, after tonight’s loss, the Mavs-last NBA season’s Western Conference finalists (against the Golden State Warriors)- are now 1-8 on the road this season.
Upcoming:
Detroit Pistons: Host the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, December 4, 2022
Dallas Mavericks: Visit the New York Knicks on Saturday, December 3, 2022
Note of Appreciation:
Photos, stats and video are courtesy of the NBA and brought to you by PhilBoxing.com.
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