SAN FRANCISCO, California– Starting a 5-game, 10-day road trip on the West Coast, the Detroit Pistons (5-15) were looking to ride the momentum from their last game. The Pistons handed the defending-champion Lakers their first double-digit loss of the season on Thursday in Detroit.
However, the Golden State Warriors (11-9) came out hot, shooting 52% as a team en route to a 118-91 victory over the Pistons at home. They built a double-digit lead early thanks to elite scoring. Small forward Andrew Wiggins led the first-half charge; he had 14 first-half points to open up the Warrior lead. He finished with 20 points as the Warriors ran away with the game.
The two-time MVP, Stephen Curry, took over in the second half. In the third, he pulled up to shoot from nearly 6-feet behind the line and drilled the three. As he jogged back, he pointed to the spot where he shot from, making sure everyone knew just how deep it was. He led the Warriors in scoring as he finished with 28 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds.
With the win, the Warriors stay tied with the Suns for the 8th spot in the Western Conference. The loss drops the Pistons back to the bottom of the East.
Warriors dominate on both sides of the floor
As the game progressed, the Warriors’ effort in the paint gave them a clear advantage. Head coach Steve Kerr started Kevon Looney at center for “defensive purposes,” and it paid off. His matchup, Mason Plumlee, struggled all night. Plumlee had logged a double-double in his last 3 games but could not provide those numbers on Saturday. He finished with just 6 points and 2 rebounds.
In contrast, the entire Warriors team seemed determined to score close to the basket from the start. They outscored the Pistons 48 to 34 in the paint. Their efforts on both ends of the court allowed their outside shooters to get a lot of space in the second half. This allowed Curry to take over, as he shot 6-8 from three, leading the team.
Pistons sluggish on offense
A slow start left the Pistons trying to mount a comeback for the remainder of the game, to no avail. Strong Warriors defense combined with poor shooting led to a 34% team shooting percentage and a 19-point deficit at the half. The cushion was more than enough for the Warriors, as they led from start to finish.
The second half only brought more issues to the Pistons’ offense. Wayne Ellington had been shooting lights-out prior to Saturday, but finished the game scoreless and 0-5 from three. Blake Griffin was the focus of the Warriors’ defense early, and it had an impact. Griffin finished with just 5 points on 1-8 shooting. The Pistons shot just 25% from three
Up Next
Pistons vs. Nuggets, Monday, February 1, Ball Arena, Denver, CO Warriors vs. Celtics, Tuesday, February 2, Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
