SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Detroit Pistons, despite missing their two leading scorers, pulled off an impressive 133-120 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night, largely thanks to a career-high performance from Jaden Ivey. Ivey’s 37 points, alongside seven assists and six rebounds, showcased his potential and led the Pistons to just their third road win of the season, improving their record to 3-20 away from home.
Alec Burks contributed significantly with 25 points and seven rebounds coming off the bench, while Jalen Duren dominated the paint with 20 points, 15 rebounds, and six assists. The Pistons managed this feat without the services of Cade Cunningham, sidelined for left knee injury management, and Bojan Bogdanovic, out due to left calf soreness, both of whom average more than 20 points per game.
The Kings, led by Domantas Sabonis with 30 points and 12 rebounds for his 33rd consecutive double-double, couldn’t capitalize on their home court advantage. Malik Monk’s 23 points and 10 assists off the bench weren’t enough to prevent the Kings from hearing boos from their own fans throughout the disappointing performance.
Detroit capitalized on a strong first-half finish with a 17-5 run, tying their season high with 70 points at the break. Despite Sacramento’s rally to take a brief lead in the third quarter, the Pistons dominated the final period with a 36-21 scoring advantage, showcasing their resilience and offensive firepower.
The Pistons’ efficiency was on full display as they shot a season-best 56% from the field and excelled from beyond the arc, making 17 of 31 three-point attempts. Additionally, Detroit’s perfect free-throw shooting (22 of 22) and rebounding dominance (48-33) were key factors in their victory.
The game also saw Sacramento’s Kevin Huerter ejected after receiving consecutive technical fouls late in the game, adding to the Kings’ frustrations.
In trade news, the Pistons were active ahead of the NBA trade deadline, acquiring Simone Fontecchio from the Utah Jazz in exchange for a second-round draft pick and trading Monte Morris to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Shake Milton, Troy Brown, and a second-round selection, according to an AP source.
Looking ahead, the Pistons will face the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday night, while the Kings aim to bounce back against the Denver Nuggets on Friday night.
