The Detroit Pistons are feeling good after their first live action of the 2025-26 season.
They tipped off their four-game preseason schedule with a 128-112 road win over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, Oct. 6. After a slow start, they won the second quarter by a 50-22 margin and turned a 21-point deficit into a 74-64 lead at halftime.
Cade Cunningham led the charge with 20 first-half points on 8-for-11 shooting, and was shut down after 19 minutes of action. They led the rest of the way without him, holding the Grizzlies to 33.3% shooting in the second half.
Tobias Harris (13 points), Isaiah Stewart (12 points), Marcus Sasser (11 points, four assists), Chaz Lanier (10 points) and Duncan Robinson (10 points) all reached double figures. J.B. Bickerstaff went deep into his rotation, with every player on the roster checking into the game. Rookie Chaz Lanier and two-way players Daniss Jenkins, Tolu Smith and Brice Williams all played extended minutes in the final period. Smith (11 points, 10 rebounds) tallied a double-double in 12 minutes. Jalen Duren missed the game with hamstring tightness and is day-to-day. The Grizzlies were without both of their star players, Ja Morant (ankle sprain) and Jaren Jackson Jr. (turf toe surgery recovery).
Cunningham dazzles in first half
The All-NBA guard got whatever he wanted, picking apart the Grizzlies’ defense with spin moves, up-and-under layups and stepback 3-pointers. Cunningham also produced one of the top highlights of preseason, catching a lob from Harris and switching hands to finish the reverse layup.
Pistons dominate after poor start
The Grizzlies controlled the game early, knocking down nine of their first 10 3-point attempts as the Pistons struggled with turnovers. They trailed Memphis 53-32 with 8:42 remaining in the second quarter, before closing the half with a 42-11 run. Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland started the second period together and sparked a 7-0 run to bring the Pistons within 11 after they ended the first trailing 42-24. Thompson had an all-around game with five points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block. Holland (nine points) and Reed (five points, 12 rebounds, two blocks) both shined.
Bickerstaff previews rotation
After opening the game with a starting lineup of Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Thompson, Tobias Harris and Stewart, Bickerstaff went with a hockey-style line change. Marcus Sasser, Ron Holland, Caris LeVert, Duncan Robinson and Paul Reed checked in midway through the opening quarter.Holland, LeVert and Robinson will be rotation stalwarts regardless of if they start or come off of the bench. If the coaching staff follows a similar pattern as last season, the second unit likely will be led by one of Cunningham or Ivey with the two being staggered so that at least one is on the floor for all 48 minutes. It isn’t clear if there will be consistent minutes available for Sasser, but he made the most of his playing time by tying Cunningham and Jenkins with four assists while knocking down three of his five shot attempts.
[ MUST WATCH: Make “The Pistons Pulse” your go-to Pistons podcast, listen available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
Follow the Pistons all year long with the best reporting at freep.com/sports/pistons.
Submit a letter to the editor at freep.com/letters, and we may publish it online or in print.
Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram (@detroitfreepress), TikTok (@detroitfreepress), YouTube (@DetroitFreePress), X (@freep), and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook (@detroitfreepress).
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons rally in second quarter, defeat Memphis Grizzlies in preseason 128-112
Reporting by Omari Sankofa II, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
