Pistons lose 18th straight game as Memphis’ Desmond Bane scores 49

DETROIT — Wednesday night at Little Caesars Arena marked the third time in under a week that Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams featured a new starting lineup. However, it didn’t matter as they fell 116-102 to the undermanned Memphis Grizzlies. The loss extends the Pistons’ franchise-record losing streak to 18 games.

In his second game back in the Pistons lineup, Bojan Bogdanovic started his first game of the season. While the Pistons’ offense was slow out of the gate, the veteran’s shooting skills were much needed as he finished with 22 points, shooting 53% from the floor. He also chipped in seven assists and four rebounds. Joining him in shouldering Detroit’s scoring load was Jalen Duren, who finished with 17 points while adding 11 rebounds and one block.

Just like their previous game, Duren was a force to be reckoned with, catching several alley-oops throughout the evening from Cade Cunningham.Speaking of Cunningham, he was solid in running the Pistons’ offense, finishing with 16 points, 10 assists, and four rebounds.

Duren had a scare in the final two minutes of the game, as he suffered what appeared to be a lower leg injury. He had to be helped off the floor by Isaiah Stewart and a member of the Pistons’ training staff. Once off the floor, however, he slowly walked to the locker room under his own power.

Detroit led by as many as eight points during the game, but just like many of their previous losses, the Pistons were unable to protect the lead. A big reason for that was the lethal scoring onslaught from Memphis’ Desmond Bane, who finished with a career-high 49 points while adding six rebounds and seven assists. Former Michigan State standout Jaren Jackson Jr. was also a problem for the Pistons as he added 24 points. Jaylen Nowell chipped in 12 points to lead Memphis’ bench scoring.