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Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff reflected on Thursday night’s 113-108 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Little Caesars Arena, emphasizing the team’s resilience in a closely contested game.
“It was a tough one for us to be honest with you. Didn’t start out the way we would have liked. A lot of turnovers in that first half…first quarter we gave up some things we didn’t want to give up, but again I give our guys credit. They just seem to figure out a way and typically it starts with our defense,” he said.
Bickerstaff highlighted individual contributions, noting Daniss Jenkins’ and Jalen Duren’s impact down the stretch. “DJ was awesome tonight…obviously the pressure that JD put on people but it’s collective…so many guys contributed. At was unbelievably defensively…we had so many guys contribute, which is typical of this team,” he added.
Ausar Thompson, the Eastern Conference defensive player of the month, drew special attention from Bickerstaff. “He told me he wants to win about 70 of those defensive player of the month awards…he’s dead serious…throughout his career that’s what he wants to do and that’s where he wants to put his impact on the game,” the coach said.
Bickerstaff also spoke on the team’s preparedness for the postseason despite missing key players. “You’re just trying to do the job. Our aim is to be playing our best basketball…it’s all systematic stuff…as long as we’re sound in our system and playing at our best, that’s going to give us a chance to win basketball games down the stretch,” he explained.
The coach discussed Jevonte Green and Kevin Huerter’s performances, praising their versatility. “His addition…he’s a dynamic offensive player. He can drive, pass, play the pick and roll…defensively, he’s been excellent in our system. He just diversifies what we do and can put pressure on people because he plays so selfless,” Bickerstaff said of Huerter. On Green, he added, “His approach stays the same…he makes winning plays and does things that help impact winning when it’s not always on the stat sheet.”
Regarding Duncan Robinson’s development as a playmaker, Bickerstaff noted, “Because of the gravity he attracts…now the bigs become available…they’ve got that symmetry, they know whatever they’re going to do based on what the defense does, and the defense can’t be right.”
Bickerstaff addressed rotations in Tobias Harris’ absence and the team’s use of big lineups. “No update on Tobias yet…playing JD and Paul Reed together was because we needed more size…to match them and play pick and roll coverage,” he said.
On his strategy for challenging fouls early in games, Bickerstaff explained, “I just looked at the video and it was a foul. I thought it was an offensive foul, so I challenged it…we’ve been winning games as a team.”
Detroit improved to 56-21 and 7-2 without Cade Cunningham since March 17. Jalen Duren recorded 22 points and 14 rebounds, while Daniss Jenkins scored 26 points. Thompson added nine assists and nine rebounds, and Duncan Robinson finished with 15 points. Minnesota was without Anthony Edwards, and the Pistons also missed Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart.
