Yang Hansen benched for the fifth consecutive game! The Trail Blazers nearly complete a 21-point comeback but ultimately fall to the Pistons

On December 23rd, in an NBA regular season matchup, the Pistons secured a 110-102 victory over the Trail Blazers. Yang Hansen once again did not see any playing time, continuing his streak of five consecutive games on the bench.

Statistics

For the Pistons, Cunningham scored 14 points with 6 rebounds and 9 assists, Duren contributed 26 points and 10 rebounds, Osar Thompson posted 18 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals, Harris added 12 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, and Duncan Robinson finished with 15 points and 4 assists;

For the Trail Blazers, Avdija tallied 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 9 assists, Sharpe had 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 steals, Klingen scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Sisoko contributed 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists;

Game Progress

At the start of the first quarter, both teams scored alternately. Midway through the quarter, the Pistons went on a scoring run, and after Cunningham hit a three-pointer, they established a 7-point lead. Just as the Pistons were about to extend their advantage, the Trail Blazers launched a scoring spurt to close the gap. By the end of the first quarter, the Trail Blazers trailed the Pistons 26-30 by 4 points, though their outside shooting was cold with 0-for-7 from beyond the arc. Early in the second quarter, Klingen hit the Trail Blazers’ first three-pointer of the game, but the Pistons responded with a multi-player offensive surge. When Duncan Robinson nailed a three-pointer, the Pistons pushed their lead to 13 points. The Trail Blazers fought back and narrowed the deficit to 6 points at one point, but the Pistons quickly answered with consecutive three-pointers to stabilize the situation. At halftime, the Trail Blazers were down by 10 points.

After the break, the Pistons once again started stronger. Duren and Osar Thompson combined through free throws, inside scoring, and jump shots to fuel another scoring run, extending the lead to 21 points. The Trail Blazers tried to catch up in the following period, but the Pistons maintained control. After three quarters, the Trail Blazers trailed 78-95 by 17 points. In the final quarter, the Pistons’ shooting cooled off, allowing the Trail Blazers to seize the moment with a 22-4 run, overturning the score to lead by 1 point. During this stretch, Cunningham fouled out with six personal fouls. The Pistons then responded with a 6-0 run to regain control. In the closing moments, the Trail Blazers launched another comeback attempt, but the Pistons held firm to secure the win.

Starting Lineups

Pistons: Cunningham, Duren, Osar Thompson, Harris, Duncan Robinson

Trail Blazers: Avdija, Sharpe, Klingen, Chris Murray, Kamara