DETROIT — In a closely contested match, the Memphis Grizzlies secured victory over the Detroit Pistons with a score of 109-103 on Saturday night. Desmond Bane was the standout performer for the Grizzlies, scoring an impressive 38 points, while Zach Edey made his mark with a remarkable career-high of 21 rebounds. Although the Grizzlies were without Ja Morant due to an unexpected illness, Jaren Jackson stepped up, contributing 27 points and 11 rebounds to the team’s efforts.
Despite the defeat, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham made a notable return to the court after missing six games because of a calf strain, scoring 25 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Ausar Thompson also added to Detroit’s tally with 18 points and 11 rebounds. The Pistons, who had recently been battling form by losing three of their last four games, found themselves in a difficult spot when center Isaiah Stewart had to sit out due to five fouls.
With their usual starter Jalen Duren sidelined because of an injury, Detroit was forced to match the 6-foot-6 Thompson against the towering 7-foot-3 3/4 Edey, a challenging situation given the height disparity. Detroit managed to keep the game tight, trailing by just 91-85 at one point. However, the Pistons struggled defensively near the basket in the closing minutes. Bane’s crucial 3-pointer pushed the lead to 104-98 with less than a minute on the clock, and Memphis ultimately sealed the game with successful free throws.
The Grizzlies have now achieved their ninth consecutive victory over the Pistons, with Detroit’s last win against them dating back to May 6, 2021. For Detroit, Jalen Duren’s absence was felt as he missed the game due to a contusion of the peroneal nerve in his right leg.
A key moment in the game came with just under four minutes to play, as Detroit trailed by two points. A sequence of fouls, including Thompson fouling Santi Aldama on a 3-point attempt, was detrimental to the Pistons’ chances. Memphis had a tough time shooting in the first half, landing just 36.7% from the field and struggling with 22.2% accuracy from the 3-point line. However, they compensated with a strong offensive rebounding performance, converting those into a 10-2 edge in second-chance points by halftime.
The Grizzlies’ next outing is a match against the Charlotte team on Tuesday night. Meanwhile, the Pistons are preparing to host Sacramento on Monday night.