Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff credited his bench for providing a “huge” spark in the team’s 128-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
“They gave us such a big spark…all those guys that came in played a high level on both ends of the floor,” Bickerstaff said, highlighting Marcus Sasser’s contributions. “I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention what Marcus Sasser did tonight…he was great defensively and hit some big shots offensively.”
Bickerstaff emphasized trust and preparation as key to Sasser’s performance. “We trust him. We believe in him. We know how good he is…every single time we’ve called his number, he’s been able to rise to the moment.”
The coach also praised team connectivity. “It’s the identity of this team…whoever has it going, they celebrate it and appreciate it. They play selfless basketball. Team over self.”
Depth across the roster played a role in Detroit’s success. “You got to go deeper than 15 with this group…they’re high character guys who care about the group and want to compete and play hard with one another,” Bickerstaff said, giving credit to Trajan Langdon and the front office for building a reliable roster.
Bickerstaff noted the team’s mental preparation, including a unique practice day before the game. “We played soccer…there were similarities to basketball—moving the ball, making cuts and reads. It translates to the game and it showed tonight.”
Cade Cunningham’s game management also drew praise. “He has a great feel…he understands the moment, time, score, rhythm, runs…he calculates very quickly what the game needs. It’s a credit to his skill set and IQ,” Bickerstaff said.
The fourth quarter surge was attributed to defense turning into offense. “We got stops and then we were able to get out and run…easy baskets and some catch-and-shoot threes because of it. That was the difference for us,” Bickerstaff said.
Detroit overcame the early loss of Tobias Harris to a left hip sprain, with Sasser adding a season-high 19 points and Isaiah Stewart contributing 15. Cade Cunningham led with 27 points and 11 assists as the Pistons dominated inside, scoring 74 points in the paint.
The Pistons improved to 25-8, extending their winning streak against the Lakers to three games, while Los Angeles fell to 20-11. Detroit will host the Miami Heat Thursday, and the Lakers return home to face the Memphis Grizzlies.
