New Orleans PelicansOpen full analysis
Detroit PistonsOpen full analysis
The Detroit Pistons defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 129–108 on March 26 at Little Caesars Arena, controlling the matchup through superior shooting and a dominant fourth quarter. J. Duren led Detroit with 30 points, while K. Huerter added 22 as the Pistons shot 56.5 percent from the field and made 15 three-pointers. Detroit's balanced attack generated 34 assists on 129 points, and the defense held New Orleans to 46.3 percent shooting and just nine made threes. The Pistons outscored the Pelicans 37–22 in the fourth quarter, erasing any second-quarter vulnerability when they managed only 34 points. New Orleans, led by Z. Williamson's 21 points and S. Bey's 17, never found rhythm offensively and trailed by double digits for much of the second half. Detroit's 123.9 offensive rating paired with a 103.3 defensive rating underscored their dominance, while the combined 108 points fell well short of the Vegas total of 225.5, reflecting a defensive-minded affair. The Pistons' fourth-quarter explosion signals building momentum as they push toward playoff positioning.
