The Detroit Pistons (10-15) weren’t able to keep up with Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks (17-7) tonight, losing to the Mavericks 122-111 in Mexico City. The Pistons came into this one winning four of their last five games heading into tonight’s game, including two games of winning by 30+ points and a game where Derrick Rose hit the game-winning shot against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Mavericks were led by future All-Star Luka Doncic, who finished tonight’s game with his 16th triple-double, scoring 41 points to go along with 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
In the first quarter, the Pistons started on a 9-2 run to take an early lead over the Mavericks. Pistons center Andre Drummond, who was questionable for tonight’s game due to an allergic reaction to an avocado, started off strong for the Pistons, scoring 12 of his 23 points in the first quarter. Luka led the charge for the Mavericks in the first, scoring 15 points in the first quarter. At the end of the first, the Pistons were down 34-29.
Drummond’s hot start continued for the Pistons in the second quarter, helping the Pistons go on a 14-0 run to give the Pistons a 55-51 lead. The Mavericks were able to take the lead back 60-58 off of a Luka Doncic three-point shot. A three by Mavericks’ guard Seth Curry gave the Mavericks a 63-58 lead. Seth Curry finished the first half with 23 points off the Mavericks bench. The Mavericks finished the quarter on a 14-0 run to give the Mavericks a 65-58 lead heading into the first half.
A pair of quick baskets from Mavericks’ forward Kristaps Porzingis and center Dwight Powell forced Pistons’ Head Coach Dwane Casey to use a timeout 70 seconds into the third quarter. The Mavericks onslaught continued after the timeout, and a Luka three-point shot gave the Mavericks a 76-60 lead. With 3:40 left in the game, another three-point shot from a red hot Luka gave the Mavericks a 93-69 lead. The Pistons were able to go on a 16-2 run to end the third, cutting the lead to just 10 for the Mavericks.
A basket from Pistons forward Markieff Morris early in the fourth quarter cut the lead to single digits, but a pair of three’s from Mavericks’ guards Jalen Brunson and Seth Curry gave the Mavericks a 104-88 lead, capping off a 6-0 run by Dallas. The Mavericks were able to coast the rest of the way.
Andre Drummond, who finished the first half with 20 points, was only able to score three more points throughout the entire second half. Pistons’ guard Derrick Rose finished tonight’s defeat with 19 points and four assists. Kristaps Porzingis finished tonight’s game with 20 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks. Seth Curry finished tonight’s game with 30 points of the Mavericks bench to go along with seven rebounds and six made triples.
The Pistons will have tomorrow off before facing former MVP James Harden and the Houston Rockets this Saturday on the road at 9 PM.
Â
