Torrid Pistons pose challenge to reconfigured Wizards
Though the All-Star break approaches, the Detroit Pistons show no signs of slowing down.
The Pistons have won 12 of their last 15 games to maintain a healthy Eastern Conference lead over New York and Boston.
Detroit wraps up a four-game homestand with a back-to-back as it hosts the new-look Washington Wizards on Thursday and the Knicks on Friday.
The Wizards are acquiring 10-time All-Star forward Anthony Davis from the Dallas Mavericks in an eight-player trade, ESPN reported on Wednesday.
In addition to Davis, out since Jan. 8 with a hand injury, Washington gets Jaden Hardy, D'Angelo Russell and Dante Exum, per the report.
The Mavericks receive Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson, Malaki Branham and Marvin Bagley III plus two first-round draft picks and three second-round selections.
The Pistons followed up a 53-point victory over Brooklyn on Sunday -- the largest margin in franchise history -- with a 124-121 win over Denver on Tuesday. Though Detroit never trailed, the Nuggets rallied to make things interesting in the closing minutes.
"I feel like at the end of the game, it comes down to who wants it more, who's going to get the loose balls, who's going to be the most disciplined, who's going to go back to their strategy and do it best," Pistons forward Ausar Thompson said. "I feel like we did it best (Tuesday). They're a great team, but you know we came up victorious."
That has been the norm for Detroit, especially on its home court. The Pistons have a 20-5 record at Little Caesars Arena.
Coach J.B. Bickerstaff felt the Nuggets' comeback was a good test for his club.
"Two really good teams competing at a high level," he said. "Two teams that have elite players on their teams, that can make a difference, that can start runs, that can stop runs. Two teams that understand the selflessness, the physicality, the toughness that it takes to win at this level."
The Pistons had a 26-9 edge in fast-break points, though they forced only 10 turnovers.
"Our entire team has bought into the identity that when we're at our best, we're the best defensive team on the floor," Bickerstaff said.
The Wizards had won three of four before getting pounded by the Knicks, 132-101, on Tuesday.
"We didn't play to our standard," Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. "We've been playing good basketball here for a long time and we didn't have the necessary execution on our defensive end. And offensively, too.
"We played one of the better teams in the NBA," Keefe added. "If you don't have your best stuff, that can happen. It's not who we've been, it's not who we're going to be. We were not happy with our performance. We did not uphold to our standard."
The Wizards had posted wins over Portland, Milwaukee and Sacramento after a nine-game losing streak.
"Got to give them some credit, but that's the deal here in the NBA. You've got to raise up to what you're going to see," Keefe said. "We didn't have our necessary level tonight. Excited to get back at that in Detroit."
Washington gave Detroit a strong challenge in their first meeting on Nov. 10. The host Pistons eked out a 137-135 overtime victory at home.
Detroit's Daniss Jenkins hit two 3-pointers in the final three seconds to force overtime. Cade Cunningham otherwise carried the Pistons with 46 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, five steals and two blocks.