Detroit — When the Detroit Pistons acquired Kevin Huerter in a trade with the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 3, coach J.B. Bickerstaff was very transparent with him about the limited playing time he would receive on the team.
The conversation was not due to a lack of faith in Huerter’s abilities to contribute to the team’s success, but rather stemmed from the number of players Bickerstaff already had in his rotation.
On Thursday night, Huerter played a crucial role in leading the Pistons to a decisive 129-108 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at Little Caesars Arena. He scored 22 points, shooting 9-of-14, which included four made 3-point field goals.
“For me, it was all about trying to stay focused on just the basketball aspect,” Huerter said. “When you get traded, your whole life is done in that former city and on to the next one. So many people want to reach out and help, but since this is my second time going through it, I just keep it to basketball and try to help my team win.”
As a member of the Atlanta Hawks and Sacramento Kings, Huerter started his career averaging 28.1 minutes per game. During his time with the Bulls, he primarily played as a reserve while recovering from a shoulder injury, yet he still averaged 26.0 minutes over his two-year tenure in Chicago.
In his first 12 games with the Pistons, Huerter participated in five, averaging 11.2 minutes. However, injuries have significantly impacted his role on the team. After stepping in for Ausar Thompson, who suffered an ankle injury against the San Antonio Spurs on March 5, Huerter played in 11 of the following 12 games, averaging 20.5 minutes.
BOX SCORE: Pistons 129, Pelicans 108
In a game against the Pelicans, Huerter made his first start with the Pistons, as Duncan Robinson was sidelined with a wrist injury. He played for 34 minutes.
“He is a very good basketball player. It has been our responsibility to figure out a way to get him on the floor because we know he is capable of helping us win games,” Bickerstaff said. “He just did not get here at an easy time. He has since taken advantage of the opportunity. I love to see how aggressive and free he is. How free he is playing.”
The Pistons have played two teams that have found new momentum since the All-Star break. On Wednesday, they narrowly lost to the Atlanta Hawks by one point.
No player seemed to take the loss to the Hawks harder than Jalen Duren. The All-Star big man was unusually quiet in the locker room after missing the potential game-winning basket as time expired at the end of overtime. Duren’s disappointment came from his belief that he had let the team down.
He responded well against the Pelicans, falling three assists shy of his first career triple-double, recording 30 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. He scored 13 points in the second quarter, which gave Detroit a 65-56 lead at halftime.
Daniss Jenkins added 19 points and nine assists, while Ausar Thompson finished with 11 points, four rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
“I think especially after last night, emotional loss, coming back in, at least in my mind, we tried to treat it like the Playoffs. Might lose a game, a tough one, and you have to come back and reset and try to get the next one. The message was the same. Come out here, wash the last one off and get the must-win.”
The Pelicans entered Detroit with the league’s ninth-best record at 10-6 since the All-Star break. When preparing for the game, Bickerstaff believed the Pelicans’ health and veteran leadership had been vital to their success. However, Zion Williamson had been at the forefront of New Orleans’ success.
He showcased his All-Star potential by recording 21 points and six rebounds. Former Piston Saddiq Bey finished with 17 points.
“He’s stayed disciplined all year, going back to the summertime, taking care of his body, nutrition, mind, spirit. He’s been available. He cares about this team. He wants to be here. It’s more of a mindset than anything,” Pelicans coach James Borrego said before the game.
“It’s to his credit. He’s putting in the time, the effort. He’s got a great team around him. Every day he’s working on the body. His recovery is massive for him. He’s just continuing to grow every year, taking another step in his work ethic … It’s just been an honor to coach him this year.”
Observations and notes
More minutes for Holland: After averaging 8.5 minutes over the last two games, Ron Holland played close to his season average (20.0 MPG)against the Pelicans. He played 19 minutes and brought the same hustle and energy that made him a favorite over the last two seasons, finishing with seven rebounds and four assists.
Sasser returns from injury: After missing the last three games due to a hip injury, Marcus Sasser returned to the lineup against the Pelicans. Sasser played 16 minutes, recording seven points on 3 of 11 shooting. In the eight games he played before going down with a hip injury, Sasser was averaging 20.6 minutes with five starts.
Keeping the ball hot: Even without Cade Cunningham, the Pistons have been good at sharing the ball in recent games. Against the Pelicans, they finished the night with 34 assists. Holland revealed that the way the Pistons have shared the ball over the last few games exemplifies their theme of “keep the ball hot,” in an attempt to help the team create shots for teammates rather than relying solely on Cunningham’s playmaking.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: ‘Focused’ Kevin Huerter sparks Pistons’ offense in blowout win
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
