MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In a strong showing, Marcus Smart recorded a season-high of 25 points, leading the Memphis Grizzlies to a solid 131-111 win against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday night.
Smart exhibited an impressive performance, shooting 8 of 12 from the field, with a remarkable 7 of 11 from beyond the three-point line. Both Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jake LaRavia contributed significantly to the scoreboard, each finishing with 19 points. Pippen also grabbed seven rebounds while shooting an efficient 9 of 12, helping Memphis secure its fourth consecutive victory. LaRavia demonstrated his shooting accuracy as well, missing only one of his nine attempts.
On the Pistons’ side, Marcus Sasser was the standout with 22 points, and Simone Fontecchio added 18 points. Jaden Ivey chipped in with 17 points, but the absence of several key players hampered Detroit’s performance. Cade Cunningham was sidelined for a third game due to a sacroiliac joint sprain, and Ja Morant was unable to participate because of a left knee contusion, having just returned from a previous injury.
Observations revealed that Cunningham’s absence, combined with Tobias Harris also missing the game, meant the loss of over 37 points in offensive production for Detroit. Ausar Thompson, who has returned to the court after dealing with a blood clot issue, filled in for Harris and made his second appearance of the season.
For Memphis, the team maintained its dominance in the paint, tallying 60 points near its league-leading average. Additionally, the Grizzlies’ bench was highly productive, accounting for 72 points in total.
A pivotal moment in the game came in the second quarter when Memphis exploited their momentum to outscore the Pistons 37-18, which included a dominating 31-7 run. The Grizzlies displayed remarkable shooting, achieving a 59% success rate in that quarter while Detroit struggled at 36%.
Statistically, Memphis initially struggled with their three-point shooting, missing their first nine attempts. However, they regrouped and converted 14 of their next 29 attempts, allowing them to extend their lead to 104-77 heading into the final quarter. In contrast, Malik Beasley of Detroit finished the game shooting 2 of 4 from the three-point range, ending his streak of 10 consecutive games with at least three three-pointers made.
Looking ahead, the Pistons are set to face the Indiana Pacers on Friday, while the Grizzlies will host the New Orleans Pelicans on the same day.
Smart exhibited an impressive performance, shooting 8 of 12 from the field, with a remarkable 7 of 11 from beyond the three-point line. Both Scotty Pippen Jr. and Jake LaRavia contributed significantly to the scoreboard, each finishing with 19 points. Pippen also grabbed seven rebounds while shooting an efficient 9 of 12, helping Memphis secure its fourth consecutive victory. LaRavia demonstrated his shooting accuracy as well, missing only one of his nine attempts.
On the Pistons’ side, Marcus Sasser was the standout with 22 points, and Simone Fontecchio added 18 points. Jaden Ivey chipped in with 17 points, but the absence of several key players hampered Detroit’s performance. Cade Cunningham was sidelined for a third game due to a sacroiliac joint sprain, and Ja Morant was unable to participate because of a left knee contusion, having just returned from a previous injury.
Observations revealed that Cunningham’s absence, combined with Tobias Harris also missing the game, meant the loss of over 37 points in offensive production for Detroit. Ausar Thompson, who has returned to the court after dealing with a blood clot issue, filled in for Harris and made his second appearance of the season.
For Memphis, the team maintained its dominance in the paint, tallying 60 points near its league-leading average. Additionally, the Grizzlies’ bench was highly productive, accounting for 72 points in total.
A pivotal moment in the game came in the second quarter when Memphis exploited their momentum to outscore the Pistons 37-18, which included a dominating 31-7 run. The Grizzlies displayed remarkable shooting, achieving a 59% success rate in that quarter while Detroit struggled at 36%.
Statistically, Memphis initially struggled with their three-point shooting, missing their first nine attempts. However, they regrouped and converted 14 of their next 29 attempts, allowing them to extend their lead to 104-77 heading into the final quarter. In contrast, Malik Beasley of Detroit finished the game shooting 2 of 4 from the three-point range, ending his streak of 10 consecutive games with at least three three-pointers made.
Looking ahead, the Pistons are set to face the Indiana Pacers on Friday, while the Grizzlies will host the New Orleans Pelicans on the same day.