Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff lauded his team’s effort and individual contributions following a 124-116 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena.
“During pregame, you talked about this group’s ability to be honest with themselves and move forward… there were some really good moments where we did the things that we needed to do,” Bickerstaff said, highlighting his team’s consistency in executing key plays. He noted that despite letting the Thunder back in the game at times, the Pistons maintained focus.
Bickerstaff singled out Jalen Duren’s dominant inside presence, stating, “He’s unstoppable. Teams got to make very difficult decisions. Coverages have to change… it opens it up for everybody else.” Duren finished with 29 points and 15 rebounds, anchoring Detroit’s frontcourt.
On Cade Cunningham’s defensive impact, the coach praised his timing and commitment: “He’s got great timing to get to those shots… the ability and the want to not concede anything… he puts himself in danger as fouls come in that, but because he wants to win, he just continues to go out and do it.” Cunningham added 29 points and 13 assists, complementing Duren’s inside dominance.
Bickerstaff also discussed Ausar Thompson’s response after a difficult previous game: “Tonight is who he’s always been… we’re not in this position if Ausar hasn’t played the way he played all season long. Ausar is a huge part of what we do.” Thompson contributed 11 points with four rebounds and three assists, maintaining his role as a consistent two-way performer.
The coach highlighted Duren’s overall growth: “His understanding of how important it is for him to dominate the paint… offensively, the ability to attack in different ways has come a long way… defenses have to make tough decisions.” Bickerstaff noted the balance required to integrate Kevin Huerter into the rotation, emphasizing the importance of creating opportunities for emerging contributors.
He praised defensive fundamentals, particularly Thompson’s screen navigation: “His ability to get through screens and get back in front of his man… lets our defense continue to play five on five instead of playing five on four or four on three if they move the ball.”
Detroit improved to 43-14, maintaining their lead in the Eastern Conference, while the Thunder fell to 45-15 despite Jaylin Williams’ career-high 30 points. The Pistons will host Cleveland on Friday, and Bickerstaff stressed the team’s focus on continuing their strong play, leveraging both star performances and depth to sustain success.
