MARCH 24 • KANSASCITY.COM
DETROIT PISTONS 7-11 · 9TH IN EASTERN CONFERENCE
7-11 · 9TH IN EASTERN CONFERENCE
Pelicans cruise past Pistons in wire-to-wire win Zion Williamson powered his way to 36 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the host Detroit Pistons 1...
Zion Williamson scores 36 as Pelicans send short-handed Pistons to 6th straight loss Zion Williamson scored 36 points and led the New Orleans Pelicans to a 114-101 victory over the short-handed Detroit Pistons
MARCH 24 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Pelicans cruise past Pistons in wire-to-wire win Zion Williamson powered his way to 36 points, seven rebounds and six assists as the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the host Detroit Pistons 1...
MARCH 24 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Zion Williamson 36 POINTS on 13-14 FGM 🔥 FULL Highlights vs Pistons
MARCH 24 • YOUTUBE
Chimezie Metu - Enters starting lineup Metu is starting Sunday's game against the Pelicans, Keith Langlois of the Pistons' official site reports.
Impact Metu joined the Pistons on a 10-day contract Wednesday and will now draw his first start with Detroit after appearing twice off the bench Wednesday and Friday. Tosan Evbuomwan will retreat to a bench role as a result of this lineup change.
MARCH 24 • ROTOWIRE
Tosan Evbuomwan - Headed to bench Evbuomwan will come off the bench with Chimezie Metu entering the starting lineup for Sunday's game against New Orleans.
Impact Evbuomwan has started Detroit's last two contests, averaging 12.5 points and 6.0 rebounds on 50.0 percent shooting off 8.0 shots and 30.5 minutes per game. It's an interesting move from the Pistons to change his routine amid strong play, but perhaps Evbuomwan will retain his typical workload.
MARCH 24 • ROTOWIRE
Cade Cunningham - Last-minute scratch Cunningham has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Pelicans due to left knee injury management, Keith Langlois of the Pistons' official site reports.
Impact This appears to be a maintenance day for Cunningham, though the team made no mention of the point guard getting the day off until 20 minutes before tipoff. Marcus Sasser draws the start at point guard and should be in line for plenty of chances, as he logged 34 minutes in his last start March 18 against Boston.
MARCH 24 • ROTOWIRE
Marcus Sasser - Starting Sunday Sasser is in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against New Orleans.
Impact Sasser draws the start in place of Cade Cunningham (knee). He is joined by Jaden Ivey, Troy Brown, Chemezie Metu and James Wiseman in a makeshift starting lineup for the injury-riddled Pistons.
MARCH 24 • ROTOWIRE
Jalen Duren - Ruled out Sunday Duren (back) won't play Sunday against the Pelicans. Johnny Kane of Bally Sports Detroit reports.
Impact As expected, Duren will miss a second straight game with back spasms, and he should be considered questionable (in a best-case scenario) to face the Knicks on Monday in the second half of a back-to-back set. James Wiseman should continue to start at center as long as Duren remains out.
MARCH 24 • ROTOWIRE
With big Eastern Conference lead, Celtics balance rest with motivation to continue winning ways - The Boston Globe Monty Williams, now coaching the Pistons after his 2021-22 Suns were KO'd early in the playoffs, noted there is always something to play for...
MARCH 23 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM
Taj Gibson - Out versus New Orleans Gibson (hamstring) will not play in Sunday's game versus the Pelicans.
Impact Gibson will be on the sideline for the third straight game due to a hamstring injury. The veteran big man's next chance to provide depth in Detroit's frontcourt will come Monday in New York.
MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE
Quentin Grimes - WIll not play against Pelicans Grimes (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup with the Pelicans.
Impact Grimes' absence will result in six straight games missed due to a bruised right knee. Sunday's game will be the first night of a back-to-back set, so it remains to be seen if Detroit is exercising caution before a potential Monday return.
MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE
Jalen Duren - Iffy against New Orleans Duren (back) is listed as questionable for Saturday's game versus the Pelicans.
Impact Duren is in danger of missing his second straight contest Sunday due to back spasms. James Wiseman will likely continue to start if Duren is ruled out against New Orleans.
MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE
Simone Fontecchio - Ruled out for Sunday Fontecchio (toe) will not play in Sunday's game versus the Pelicans.
Impact Fontecchio's absence will mark his fourth straight game missed due to a bruised left toe. The reserve forward's next opportunity to suit up will come Monday against the Knicks.
MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE
Tosan Evbuomwan - Career-best effort versus Boston Evbuomwan totaled 14 points (4-9 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 4-6 FT), eight rebounds and one assist in 31 minutes during Friday's 129-102 loss to the Celtics.
Impact Making his second straight start for the shorthanded Pistons, Evbuomwan set new career highs in points while posting his best rebound total since he ripped down 12 boards for the Grizzlies back on Feb. 4, coincidentally also against the Celtics. The 23-year-old undrafted rookie could see a hefty workload down the stretch for Detroit with Isaiah Stewart (hamstring) and Ausar Thompson (illness) both out for the rest of the season and Simone Fontecchio (toe) also banged up.
MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE
James Wiseman - Season-high 24 points Friday Wiseman produced 24 points (11-13 FG, 2-4 FT), nine rebounds and four assists over 37 minutes during Friday's 129-102 loss to the Celtics.
Impact It was the best scoring performance of the season for Wiseman, who fell just short of his third double-double of 2023-24. The 22-year-old center was getting his first start of the season with Jalen Duren (back) a late scratch and Isaiah Stewart (hamstring) done for the season, and Wiseman seems set for a significant role in the frontcourt over the final weeks of the campaign. Through 16 games since the All-Star break, he's averaged 18.6 minutes a contest with 8.3 points, 6.6 boards, 1.4 assists and 0.6 blocks while shooting 62.5 percent from the floor.
MARCH 23 • ROTOWIRE
Detroit faces New Orleans, seeks to halt 5-game skid
Detroit looks to end its five-game losing streak when the Detroit Pistons take on New OrleansMARCH 23 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Celtics beats Pistons 129-102 Jaylen Brown scored 33 points and the NBA-leading Boston won their eighth straight game, beating the short-handed Detroit.
MARCH 23 • SANDIEGOUNIONTRIBUNE.COM
Celtics roll past Pistons for 8th consecutive win Jaylen Brown poured in 33 points and the visiting Boston Celtics extended their winning streak to eight games with a 129-102 win over the De...
MARCH 23 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
Jaylen Brown powers shorthanded Celtics past Pistons for eighth win in a row - The Boston Globe Playing without Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, and Jrue Holiday, the Celtics still had no trouble dispensing with the Pistons.
MARCH 23 • BOSTONGLOBE.COM
James Wiseman - Starting sans Duren Wiseman will start Friday's game against the Celtics.
Impact Minutes after the Pistons released their starting lineup, they downgraded Jalen Duren (back) to out and submitted a new first five with Wiseman joining Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Tosan Evbuomwan and Troy Brown. It'll be Wiseman's first start as a Piston, but when he's played at least 25 minutes (five games) this season, the 2020 No. 2 overall pick has averaged 15.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 0.8 blocks in 27.0 minutes.
MARCH 22 • ROTOWIRE
Jalen Duren - Late scratch vs. Celtics Duren has been ruled out for Friday's game against Boston.
Impact Duren was initially listed in Detroit's starting lineup, but the team announced only a few minutes before tipoff that the big man would be held out. James Wiseman draws the start at center in Duren's place.
MARCH 22 • ROTOWIRE
Troy Brown Jr. - Starting against Boston Brown is in the starting lineup against the Celtics, Sean Grande of NBC Sports Boston reports.
Impact Brown will make his fourth start of the season -- and first since Dec. 11 -- due to the absences the Pistons have in the frontcourt. Brown is averaging 7.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists across 29.3 minutes per game in a starting role.
MARCH 22 • ROTOWIRE
Stanley Umude - Won't return this season The Pistons announced Friday that Umude will miss the remainder of the season due to a hairline fracture in his right ankle, Keith Langlois of the Pistons' official site reports.
Impact Umude sustained an ankle injury Wednesday against the Pacers and had already been ruled out for Friday's game against Boston. He'll be unavailable for the final few weeks of the regular season following his diagnosis, but he won't require surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. Over 24 appearances this year, the 24-year-old averaged 5.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in 12.8 minutes per game.
MARCH 22 • ROTOWIRE
Quentin Grimes - Won't play Friday Grimes (knee) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Celtics.
Impact Friday will mark Grimes' fifth consecutive game on the sidelines, and with Detroit's next two games coming as a Sunday-Monday, back-to-back set, that number will likely hit six on Sunday. Without a clear timetable, Grimes belongs on the waiver wire in most formats.
MARCH 21 • ROTOWIRE
