The Detroit Pistons extended the NBA’s longest active winning streak to nine games on Friday night, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers 114-105 and moving to 11-2—the franchise’s best start since the 2007-08 season.
Detroit prevailed despite another lengthy injury list. Cade Cunningham missed his second straight game with a bruised hip, while Jalen Duren, Tobias Harris and Ausar Thompson were sidelined by ankle problems. Jaden Ivey has yet to appear this season following preseason knee surgery.
Isaiah Stewart returned from injury and contributed 14 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes, but the night belonged to the reserves. Two-way guard Daniss Jenkins drilled a half-court heave at the third-quarter buzzer to trim a 12-point deficit to two, then finished with 19 points and eight assists in 35 minutes. Detroit outscored Philadelphia 31-15 in the fourth quarter and knocked down a season-high 17 three-pointers, shooting better than 41 percent from deep.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised his team’s toughness afterward. “They’ve got a nastiness to them,” he said. “They like it when it gets messy and ugly. We’ve got a bunch of nasty dogs in that locker room, and they love it.”
Fellow Dallas native Tyrese Maxey led Philadelphia with 31 points. The 76ers were without Joel Embiid and Paul George, both recovering from knee issues.
Jenkins has been pivotal all week, forcing overtime with a late three against Washington on Monday and recording 18 points and 12 assists versus Chicago on Wednesday. Detroit will seek a tenth straight win Monday when it hosts the Indiana Pacers, who share the Eastern Conference’s worst record.
Source: Hoops Wire
