The Thunder fell to the Pistons 112-103 on Monday evening. The loss extends their recent losing streak to three games. The Thunder had the advantage for most of the first half, leading by as many as 16 at one point in the second quarter. The second half was a different story, as Detroit came out of the locker room on a 24-6 run and retook the lead on a Jaden Ivey three-pointer with 6:31 left in the third.
Fans who hoped to see a bounce-back performance after the team’s puzzling play in Milwaukee were disappointed. The Pistons were much more physical than the Thunder from start to finish. The Thunder were out-rebounded once again, losing the battle on the glass 58-46. Three Pistons starters – Isaiah Stewart, Cade Cunningham, and Jaden Ivey – totaled ten rebounds each. The Pistons scored more points in the paint, which has been a point of emphasis for a young Thunder team in the season’s first few games. The Pistons went to the line 16 more times than the Thunder and shot 76 percent from the line compared to Oklahoma City’s 65 percent clip.
The Pistons also made better halftime adjustments than the Thunder. They improved their shooting percentages in the second half to 49 percent from the field and 42 percent from three after putting up abysmal numbers of 35 and 15 percent in the first half. The Thunder moved in the opposite direction, shooting 34 percent in the second half to follow a 46 percent performance in the first half.
In the following slide, we’ll break down the performances of each Thunder starter during Monday’s loss.