Detroit Pistons close road trip with stumble in Dallas, fall 123-117 to Mavericks
DALLAS — At the end of a road trip, the Detroit Pistons were unable to go three-for-three.
The Pistons fell to the Dallas Mavericks on Friday, 123-117, finishing their road trip 2-1 after defeating the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday and the Miami Heat on Wednesday.
The offense was stagnant for most of the night as the Pistons struggled to get out in transition. They’re second in the league in fastbreak points per game (19.4) but only had six Friday despite forcing 20 turnovers.
"They did a pretty good job defending us in terms of transition," Isaiah Stewart said. "We know defensively we love to use our defense to lead into transition buckets. We didn’t do that tonight and that hurt us as well."
With the loss, the Pistons (39-32) remain in sixth place in the East with 11 games remaining, a game behind fifth-place Milwaukee but five games up on Atlanta to avoid the East's play-in tournament.
Cade Cunningham, an Arlington, Texas, native who made his long-awaited homecoming, finished with 35 points, seven rebounds and six assists. A pair of baskets within the final minute cut the deficit to three, 118-115, but Brandon Williams iced the game for Dallas with a three-point play with 16.9 seconds remaining.
Malik Beasley scored 16 points and knocked down five 3-pointers, and Jalen Duren scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
The halfcourt offense couldn’t keep up with a banged-up Mavericks team that was without Anthony Davis and Kyrie Irving, along with several rotation players. The Pistons shot 46.9% overall and 11 for 31 (35.5%) from 3, while allowing Dallas to shoot 52.5%.
Former Piston Spencer Dinwiddie led Dallas with 29 points, and PJ Washington added 27 points.
"We just didn’t do the job defensively that we’re capable of, and that’s what it came down to," J.B. Bickerstaff said. "To start the game, that first quarter their ball was just loose and they got to the paint.
"It allowed too many triggers, we were giving up shots at the rim, offensive rebounds because our bigs had to help. We just had to be better tonight defensively."
Tim Hardaway Jr. exited the game midway through the second quarter with a right ankle sprain.
Cunningham (finally) makes home debut
Cunningham has played nearly four full seasons without making his official homecoming to the Dallas area. Friday, inexplicably, was Cunningham’s first time facing the Mavericks in Dallas. He missed the Pistons’ visit his rookie season with a hip pointer, and he was rehabbing from shin surgery when the team made the trip his second season.
Last year, most of the Pistons’ roster (including Cunningham) had already been shut down by the time they flew to Dallas for their second-to-last game of the season on April 12 — which they won, 107-89, for their 14th and final win of the season.
More than 20 of Cunningham’s family and friends attended the game, including parents Keith and Carrie, older brother Cannen and daughter Riley. He put on a show, but was unable to secure the win.
Holland also returns home, makes impact
Rookie Ron Holland, who hails from nearby Duncanville, Texas — about 13 miles south of Dallas — also had family and friends in attendance for his first game home. Holland has appeared in all 71 games the Pistons have played this season, due to his off-the-bench energy and defense. He provided a lift once again on Friday.
He scored 10 of the Pistons’ first 14 points in the second quarter, providing a needed spark after a rough opening period. Holland was directly responsible for their first four scores of the frame, opening the quarter with a tip-in and assist to Isaiah Stewart before finishing a 3-point play, and knocking down a 3-pointer.
Holland finished with 12 points and five rebounds in just over 12 minutes, on 5-for-9 shooting.
Hardaway exits with ankle sprain
With 6:02 remaining in the second quarter, Hardaway hurt his right leg after accidentally stepping on Washington's foot. Hardaway fell and immediately began grabbing his leg, and he eventually limped off of the floor with help from Pistons trainers.
The Pistons ruled him out for the rest of the game during halftime. The Michigan alumnus has started all 66 games he has appeared in this season, averaging 10.4 points per game on 36% shooting from 3.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on X and/or Bluesky.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons fall to banged-up Dallas Mavericks, 123-117
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