DETROIT – In what could be seen as a glimpse into a potential NBA Finals matchup, the Detroit Pistons took down the Oklahoma City Thunder 124-116 on Wednesday night. However, the Thunder faced immense challenges, playing without their top six scorers due to various injuries.
Oklahoma City’s head coach, Mark Daigneault, acknowledged the difficulties his team encountered, stating, “We obviously had the wind in our faces a little out there tonight. I thought it was a really good effort by the guys who played to gut that one out.” The Thunder started the game missing key players including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams, Ajay Mitchell, and Chet Holmgren, with Isaiah Hartenstein also sidelined.
Despite the absence of their leading scorers, the Thunder made an impressive start, leading 34-22 at the end of the first quarter. However, the resilient Pistons turned the tide in the second quarter, outscoring Oklahoma City 36-18—marking the Thunder’s worst margin in any quarter this season.
The situation worsened for the Thunder after halftime, as player Isaiah Joe became unavailable due to a hip issue, along with two-way center Branden Carlson dealing with back problems. By the late third quarter, the Pistons had established a significant lead at 92-75.
Daigneault noted, “The game got away from us a little bit in the third, and it looked like it was going to be a runaway. But our guys did a great job of getting back into it.” The Thunder managed to narrow the gap to three points in the fourth quarter, but were unable to keep the Pistons off the boards, leading to their defeat.
Despite the loss, center Jaylin Williams emerged as a bright spot for Oklahoma City, scoring a career-high 30 points, with 14 of those coming in a spirited fourth quarter. Daigneault praised Williams for his performance, saying, “He showed great toughness and, obviously, great offense. We really flowed through him, and against a team that really pressures like Detroit, he was a great help for us.”
The game served as a testament to the depth and potential of both teams, leaving fans hopeful for what this season might hold as the playoffs approach.