It’s the day of glory for Killian Hayes! In full rise since the injury of Cade Cunningham, the French sign his best game in career, with the victory at the end (131-125) after extra time. And it is he who responds to Luka Doncic in this extension by scoring 8 of his team’s 14 points!
Dallas thought they had done the hard part by equalizing, thanks to Christian Wood (125-125) but Hayes followed up with two 3-point shots to snatch the victory.
It took guts and mentality among the young Pistons who had led by nine points in the 4th quarter with less than three minutes remaining (115-106). The defense on Luka Doncic was then perfect but the Slovenian will play the others, and Dallas will end the quarter on an 11-2 to win this extension. It was Reggie Bullock who scored the equalizing basket, before Isaiah Stewart missed the winning basket.
The rest, we know it with a boss Hayes, even in defense, to offer the Pistons one of their best victories of the season.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
Ivey 6th man. Back from injury, Ivey came off the bench 4 minutes from the end of the first quarter, and he will be involved in the next eight points. Facing the Mavericks area, he is the one who broke the lines with his aggressiveness, and we will also remember his big 3-pointers in overtime.
The yo-yo of the 4th quarter. Adroit for three quarters (57%, with a 12 of 24 from 3-pointers), the Pistons experienced a big cold snap at the start of the 3rd quarter with a 0 of 6 from 3-pointers. Result, their 12-point lead melted like snow in the sun, and Dallas signed a 17-4 in five minutes to take control of the game. But the Pistons will react to regain a nine-point lead, before finally cashing in an 11-2 in the “money time”.
Free throws. It’s rare but the Mavericks were more skilful in shooting than in free throws: 54% against 48%! It had been nearly 25 years since the Mavericks had experienced such a dearth of free throws, with 15 misses on the line!
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Killian Hayes. It’s his best career game, and not just on offense. He defended very well on Doncic, and he behaved like a leader. 22 points, 8 assists to 10 of 13 on shots, with the winning baskets. What else?
✅ Bojan Bogdanovic. How precious he is in this team by his address from afar and his accuracy! Quiet strength, and he transmits his serenity to his teammates. We wouldn’t be surprised if Hayes got a lot out of his presence.
✅ Marvin Bagley III. Christian Wood played against his double! Like Hayes, the former Kings interior delivers one of his best matches with the Pistons: 19 points, 13 rebounds on 7 of 10 on shots.
✅ ⛔Luka Doncic. It’s hard not to mention him as he plays fair, especially at the end of the 4th quarter. He did not do too much, but on the other hand, his 2 of 6 in free throws and his oversights in defense are expensive.
⛔ Spencer Dinwiddie. He has the confidence of Jason Kidd, who leaves him on the field in the “money time”, but Dinwiddie signs an awful 0 of 6 on shots. The comparison with Hayes, tonight, is obviously not to his advantage…
THE FOLLOWING
Detroit (6-18): reception of the Grizzlies on Sunday
Dallas (10-11) : Saturday, at 6 p.m., at Madison Square Garden
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