BLAKE GRIFFIN

The Chicago Bulls say guard Lonzo Ball will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to be out six to eight weeks.

Ja Morant scored 36 points and five Grizzlies scored in double figures as Memphis extended its winning streak to five games with a 118-104 win over the Brooklyn Nets.

Kevin Durant scored 34 points, making a four-point play with the game tied and 1:46 left, and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Philadelphia 76ers 114-105 for another short-handed victory.

Kevin Durant scored an NBA season-high 51 points in the Brooklyn Nets’ 116-104 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.

Kevin Durant had 29 points and 10 rebounds, James Harden added a triple-double and the Brooklyn Nets extended their winning streak to four games with a 96-90 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

LeBron James and Russell Westbrook were on one side.

OK, so who is actually on the Detroit Pistons’ roster? Here's a full breakdown.

The Brooklyn Nets had all the shooting and scoring any team could ever want.

Brooklyn's blockbuster brought in James Harden.

Khris Middleton scored 38 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo added 30 and the Milwaukee Bucks never trailed in a 104-89 victory over the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday to force a decisive seventh game in their second-round playoff series.

Kevin Durant had 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in one of the best performances in postseason history, sending the Brooklyn Nets back into the lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals with a 114-108 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5.

Denver’s Nikola Jokic was the runaway MVP this season, which made it a virtual certainty that he would also be an All-NBA first-team selection.

First they lost James Harden, then Kyrie Irving, and finally the Brooklyn Nets lost their lead in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Many thought the second round series between the Brooklyn Nets and the Milwaukee Bucks had the potential to be a tight one. However, after two games in Brooklyn, one team is wasting little time to try and put the series away. Watch the NBA Playoffs on FuboTV (7-day free trial)The Nets continued to roll in game two, blowing out the Bucks 125-86. Durant had another big night, scoring 32 points, the most among any player on Tuesday, and leads the series in scoring, averaging 30.5 points-per-game. What: NBA Eastern Conference SemifinalsWho: (2) Brooklyn Nets vs. (3) Milwaukee BucksWhen: Thursday, June 10Time: 7:30 p.m.

In his second postseason appearance, Brown has averaged 7.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists on 48.8 percent shooting overall. Andre Drummond -- He signed with the Lakers in March and averaged nine points and 11 rebounds in the five games he started in the playoffs. Markieff Morris -- He played in four of the six games in this series and averaged 2.3 points in the playoffs. He averaged 8.8 points on 38.5 percent shooting from the field and 34.5 percent shooting from distance. He played roughly 35 minutes a night, scoring 19.4 points per game and averaged four rebounds and five assists per game.

Kevin Durant scored 32 points in three quarters of a top-to-bottom blowout that sent the Brooklyn Nets halfway to the Eastern Conference finals with a 125-86 rout of the Milwaukee Bucks.

James Harden won’t be back for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Kevin Durant scored 29 points, Kyrie Irving had 25 and the two superstars carried the Brooklyn Nets after James Harden’s early injury in a 115-107 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Kevin Durant had 32 points and 12 rebounds, Kyrie Irving scored 29 points and the Brooklyn Nets recovered from their superstars’ frigid start to beat the Boston Celtics 104-93 in Game 1 of their series.

Luka Doncic scored 24 points, Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23 and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Brooklyn Nets 113-109 to finish a season sweep.

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 49 points, and the Milwaukee Bucks edged Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets 117-114.

Kevin Durant scored 33 points in his latest return from injury, Kyrie Irving had 34 and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Phoenix Suns 128-119 in a matchup of two of the NBA’s top teams.

Kevin Durant missed his third straight game against Boston after Nets coach Steve Nash said the forward’s bruised left thigh hadn’t healed enough to play.

Joel Embiid had 39 points and the Philadelphia 76ers beat Brooklyn 123-117 in an anticipated matchup that fizzled with the Nets missing their biggest stars.

Kevin Durant returned from a 23-game absence to spark Brooklyn’s most explosive half of the season, finishing with 17 points and perfect shooting in the Nets’ 139-111 rout of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Kyrie Irving scored 40 points, Jeff Green made two free throws with 3.7 seconds left and the Brooklyn Nets overcome the early loss of James Harden to beat the New York Knicks 114-112.

Houston Rockets' Kevin Porter Jr. (3) and Jae'Sean Tate (8) defend against Brooklyn Nets' Kyrie Irving during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)NEW YORK – Kyrie Irving had 31 points and a season-high 12 assists, and the Brooklyn Nets overcame the loss of James Harden to beat the Houston Rockets 120-108 on Wednesday night and move into first place in the Eastern Conference. Harden sat out the fourth quarter against his former team with right hamstring tightness, finishing with 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists. The Rockets jumped to a 24-6 lead, with an 8-for-9 start that included makes on all five 3-point attempts. The Rockets listed the injury as a left knee effusion and it's unknown whether it will keep him out longer.

FILE - In this Feb 5, 2021, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers' Andre Drummond drives the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Milwaukee Bucks in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)LOS ANGELES – Andre Drummond is joining the Los Angeles Lakers for the playoff push. The Lakers announced the signing of the two-time All-Star center less than an hour before Sunday night's game against the Orlando Magic. AdThe Lakers currently rank ninth in the NBA in rebounds per game (45.1), but just 17th in offensive rebounds (9.6). Ad___AP Sports Writer Joe Reedy in Los Angeles contributed to this report___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

New Orleans Pelicans guard Eric Bledsoe (5) is blocked by San Antonio Spurs center LaMarcus Aldridge (12) as he tries to score during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Antonio, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)NEW YORK – LaMarcus Aldridge plans to sign with the Brooklyn Nets for the remainder of the season, a person with knowledge of the details said Saturday. After reaching a buyout agreement with the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday, the veteran forward quickly became a coveted free agent for contending teams. He decided to become the latest big name on the Brooklyn roster, the person told The Associated Press. He was an All-Star in three of his seasons in San Antonio.

The Detroit Pistons had a hard-fought night against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday as they tried to bounce back from a loss before. Despite their second-half rally, they fell to the Nets 113-111, dropping to 12-31 on the season. Pistons get physical: On Friday night, the Pistons played a physical game that led to tensions running hot. They were called for 30 fouls by the end of the night sending the Nets to line 34 times. Then with 9:50 left in the second quarter and after an elbow to the face from Griffin, Stewart returned the favor and was called for a flagrant two foul.

The Detroit Pistons rallied in the second half Friday to get back into their matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. The game came down to the final 4.5 seconds, after Pistons rookie Saddiq Bey had a big takeaway on Jeff Green’s inbound pass. The Pistons (12-32) and Nets (31-15) were both scrappy throughout the night. One player the Pistons just could not subdue was Harden, who ended the night with 44 points and 14 rebounds. The Pistons hit the road for their second game of a back-to-back as they face the Washington Wizards on Saturday (8 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

Brooklyn Nets forward Blake Griffin (2) is defended by Detroit Pistons forward Sekou Doumbouya during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, March 26, 2021, in Detroit. Griffin scored 17 points and was part of a first-half dustup that resulted in Isaiah Stewart's ejection, and the Brooklyn Nets outlasted the Pistons 113-111 on Friday night. AdBy the end of the game, however, Detroit coach Dwane Casey didn't want to talk about Griffin at all. Brooklyn was still without Kevin Durant (left hamstring strain) and Kyrie Irving (personal reasons), but the Nets had enough to hold off the last-place Pistons. The Pistons went 34 for 47 on free throws.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - FEBRUARY 26: Wayne Ellington #8 of the Detroit Pistons looks on against the Sacramento Kings during the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena on February 26, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)DETROIT – The NBA Trade Deadline is Thursday afternoon and we’re tracking any and all Pistons news. We’re tracking the latest rumors and news with the Pistons and around the NBA below. MORE: NBA Trade Deadline: Could Pistons make more moves? Track Pistons trade rumors and more NBA news below:

Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives around Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris (12) in the first half during an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 24, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)SALT LAKE CITY – Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points and the Utah Jazz routed the short-handed Brooklyn Nets 118-88 on Wednesday night. This matchup between Eastern and Western Conference contenders lost some luster when the Nets James Harden was scratched due to a sore neck. At halftime, the Jazz led 63-38 – the lowest scoring first half of the season for Brooklyn. Even with all their stars, the Nets have struggled defensively this season and relied on their supercharged offense to get their wins.

Blake Griffin came off the bench Sunday for the first time in his NBA career. Griffin made his debut with the Brooklyn Nets in a 113-106 victory over the Washington Wizards. The Detroit Pistons and the six-time All-Star agreed on Feb. 15 to part ways. Sunday was the first time in 643 NBA games that Griffin has come off the bench. The Nets visit Little Caesars Arena on Friday, so Griffin will face his former team soon after the transition to his new club, unless he is rested.

Brooklyn Nets Blake Griffin cheers on his team against the Boston Celtics during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 11, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)NEW YORK – Blake Griffin is expected to make his debut for the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday night against Washington. The Nets signed the six-time All-Star on March 8 but wanted to gradually prepare him to play after he had been inactive during his final weeks in Detroit. Griffin has been working out with the Nets but has sat out five games due to what the team called left knee injury management. The Nets upgraded Griffin from probable to available on the injury report before the game.

The Detroit Pistons have reportedly added another center to the mix ahead of the March 25 trade deadline. The Pistons signed Tyler Cook to a 10-day contract on Monday, according to The Detroit News. Cook joins a Pistons team with three other centers under contract. The 23-year-old center last signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets after some strong play in the G League. Detroit could also look to audition the Iowa product as a future option at center with the Pistons still open for business with the deadline 10 days away.

Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk #19 of the Detroit Pistons drives against Jeff Teague #00 of the Atlanta Hawks. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons have agreed to trade Svi Mykhailiuk and a 2027 second-round draft pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder for guard Hamidou Diallo, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The 22-year-old Diallo is averaging a career-best 11.9 points this season. It's another step in a drastic roster overhaul for Detroit under new general manager Troy Weaver, who was previously an executive for the Thunder. Only one player who appeared in a game for the Pistons last season is still on the roster — 20-year-old Sekou Doumbouya.

USA Basketball is a step closer to choosing the team that will play in this summer’s rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, releasing the names Thursday of 57 players who are part of the pool to fill the squad. It’s also already drawing major interest from some NBA stars who have yet to taste Olympic gold. USA Basketball will pare the list to a 12-person Olympic team by early summer. Jordan, who now plays for Brooklyn, is also a newcomer to the pool even though he was on the 2016 Olympic team. “But for USA Basketball to receive the commitment of so many outstanding players remains an indicator of the great honor of representing your country means to these men.”

The Detroit Pistons reached the halfway point of the season on pace for a worse record than in 2019-20 but with a brighter outlook. Here are five questions/things to watch for in the second half of the season, which begins Thursday in Charlotte:Will they trade Jerami Grant? Sekou Doumbouya is still young (20), but the Pistons probably expected more progress from the 2019 15th overall pick in his second season. With Griffin gone, Doumbouya should get more minutes in the second half and a chance to better assert himself. Svi Mykhailiuk has taken a step back in his third season, averaging 33.5 percent from 3-point distance after shooting 40.4 percent in 2019-20.

FILE - Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin plays during overtime of of an NBA basketball game in Detroit, in this Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, file photo. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)NEW YORK – Blake Griffin is joining the collection of stars in Brooklyn. The six-time All-Star agreed to sign with the Nets, a person with knowledge of the details said Sunday. Griffin became a free agent Friday when he completed a buyout agreement with the Detroit Pistons. The 31-year-old Griffin is a six-time All-Star who has averaged 21.4 points and 8.7 rebounds since being the No.

Blake Griffin, soon to be 32, is seeking his first NBA Championship in his 11th season. Griffin has agreed to a deal to join the Brooklyn Nets for the remainder of the season, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Sunday night. ESPN reports the Nets are using one of their veteran minimum contract slots to sign the six-time All-Star forward. Griffin joins a stacked Nets team that includes former league MVPs Kevin Durant and James Harden as well as Kyrie Irving. Griffin has started all 642 games he has played in the NBA but figures to come off the bench for Brooklyn.

Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) looks to pass over Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)DETROIT – Blake Griffin's time in Detroit is over, another significant step in a rebuilding process that has the Pistons at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. Griffin, who turns 32 later this month, came to Detroit in a trade during the 2017-18 season. Detroit traded big man Andre Drummond around this time last year, and the team's offseason reshuffling left Griffin as one of the few holdovers. “Blake has been a great representative for our franchise and for the city of Detroit,” Pistons owner Tom Gores said.

The Detroit Pistons and veteran forward Blake Griffin have agreed to a contract buyout. A league source confirmed to MLive that Griffin and the team reached an agreement. “I am grateful to the Pistons for understanding what I want to accomplish in my career and for working together on the best path forward,” Griffin said in a statement last month. With the Pistons moving forward in the restoration of the franchise, Griffin wants to play meaningful games for a team with strong playoff chances. “It’s been us trying to figure it out and with Blake, obviously, he’s worked so hard to get himself back to be able to play,” Pistons’ general manager Troy Weaver said last month.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Detroit Pistons talks to Blake Griffin #23 in the second half while playing the Orlando Magic at Little Caesars Arena on November 25, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)DETROIT – Detroit Pistons and forward Blake Griffin have agreed to a contract buyout, according to ESPN. His first full season in Detroit, Griffin averaged 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Detroit.

But with Griffin and Grant playing much of the time at power forward, Doumbouya was locked in steep competition to prove himself. So far this season, Bey has shown some of the ways he can be part of the framework. Mykhailiuk has had some sporadic minutes this season at the small forward position dominated by Grant and Bey. With Griffin’s absence, the Pistons will likely slide Grant to the four more permanently, opening up more opportunities for Mykhailiuk. Griffin’s exit also creates a few more minutes for 2019 second-round pick Deividas Sirvydis, who has made just four appearances this season.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green criticized the NBA Monday night saying there’s a double standard in the league when it comes to how players and organizations are allowed to operate when players are expected to be traded. Green specifically pointed out how former Detroit Pistons and current Cleveland Cavaliers center Andre Drummond is being treated by the Cavs. The move was made because the Cavs are expected to try to trade the former All-Star in the coming days. “At some point, as players, we need to be treated with the same respect. “As players, we’re told, ‘Ah, no, you can’t say that, you can’t say this,’ but teams can?

The Detroit Pistons will experience a hiatus this week, just as they are starting to play their best basketball of the season, having won three of their past four games. The Pistons’ game at Dallas Wednesday has been postponed due to the state of emergency in Texas caused by the severe weather, the NBA announced. The league on Monday postponed the Pistons’ home game tonight against San Antonio due to a positive COVID-19 test in the Spurs organization and subsequent contact tracing that ruled out other players. Wednesday was the start of a five-game, eight-day trip for the Pistons (8-19) that included stops in Memphis (Friday), Orlando (Sunday and Tuesday) and New Orleans (Feb. 24). More: Pistons didn’t win with Blake Griffin, but he was the consummate pro who gave his all

Midway through their first season in downtown Detroit since 1978, the Pistons were playing to mostly sparse crowds at Little Caesars Arena in 2017-18. The Pistons had lost eight games in a row and were in danger of falling out of the playoff picture. It was a disappointing finish for the team in coach Dwane Casey’s first season, but a tremendous year for Griffin. The Pistons and Griffin, 31, hoped an extended off-season due to COVID-19 would enable him to rest, rehab and return to form. It would be a well-deserved spot for a player who did not find team success in Detroit but was a consummate pro through it all.

The Detroit Pistons are taking another step in their rebuilding process, planning to part ways with Blake Griffin. The Pistons, though, have made only one postseason appearance with him and have spent much of the last year overhauling their roster in earnest. Detroit is 8-19 this season, and Griffin has already missed seven games. “I am grateful to the Pistons for understanding what I want to accomplish in my career and for working together on the best path forward,” Griffin said. He will be in the Hall of Fame someday.”Griffin, who had knee surgery last year, played just 18 games last season.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) reacts after being called for a technical foul during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks in San Francisco, Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)SAN FRANCISCO – Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green sharply criticized the NBA following Monday night's win over Cleveland, saying players put on the trading block by teams are being treated unfairly. Green spoke out after news broke of the Cavaliers sitting two-time All-Star center Andre Drummond because they’re looking to deal him. “As a player, you’re the worst person in the world when you want a different situation,” Green said. Bickerstaff also said the decision to sit Drummond came only after consulting both Drummond and his agent about the situation.

Blake Griffin likely has played his final game with the Detroit Pistons. The organization and the veteran forward have agreed that he will sit as his future is determined. Coming off a knee injury from last season, Griffin has averaged 12.3 points and 5.2 rebounds in 20 games. “I am grateful to the Pistons for understanding what I want to accomplish in my career and for working together on the best path forward,” Griffin said in a statement. In the offseason, the Pistons turned over about 75 percent of its roster leaving just Rose, Griffin, Sekou Doumbouya and Svi Mykhiliuk as the holdovers.

Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) looks to pass over Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Feb. 5, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons plan to keep Blake Griffin out of the lineup while he and the organization work out a decision on his future, a sign the star forward's days with the team could be numbered. Detroit is 8-19 this season, and Griffin has already missed seven games. “I am grateful to the Pistons for understanding what I want to accomplish in my career and for working together on the best path forward," Griffin said. AdWith so many new faces, Griffin has been an afterthought at times, averaging 12.3 points — a career low.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Dwane Casey of the Detroit Pistons talks to Blake Griffin #23 in the second half while playing the Orlando Magic at Little Caesars Arena on November 25, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)DETROIT – Blake Griffin will be out of the Detroit Pistons’ lineup until he and the team can come to an agreement about his playing future, according to ESPN. His first full season in Detroit, Griffin averaged 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game. Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) is defended by Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Detroit.

The Detroit Pistons will be further depleted tonight when they visit the Boston Celtics (8 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit) as Sekou Doumbouya will sit out due to a concussion, according to the NBA’s official injury report. Rookie Isaiah Stewart is expected to get his second start. Griffin can move from power forward to center when Stewart is resting, but the Pistons have limited options after that. Doumbouya has struggled in his second season. He had six points and six rebounds in 16 minutes Thursday in a 111-95 loss to Indiana.

Playing without centers Mason Plumlee and Jahlil Okafor Thursday, the Detroit Pistons’ depth was depleted, and so was their margin of error. The game was tied 52-52 at the half, before a third-quarter lull cost the Pistons, as the Pacers outscored them 30-18 to take control. The Pistons made just five of their 28 3-point attempts, while the Pacers shot 45.2 percent (14-of-31) from three. The Pistons did have some big help from Josh Jackson, who ended the night with 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists. With the absence of Plumlee, the Pistons may turn to the second-year forward and Griffin at center for more minutes.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) is defended by Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey (41) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)LOS ANGELES – LeBron James scored eight of his 33 points in the second overtime, Anthony Davis added 30 points and the Los Angeles Lakers narrowly avenged a loss in Detroit last month with a 135-129 victory over the undermanned Pistons on Saturday night. The Lakers committed a season-high 23 turnovers, blew a 17-point lead and wasted several chances to win in regulation. “There’s so many learning situations for young players and our guys to play against a great team like the Lakers. Lakers: Vogel got a technical foul in the second quarter for arguing about a blocking call on Marc Gasol.

Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 117-105 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. Jerami Grant scored 27 points to lead Detroit and Josh Jackson added 22. The Pistons trailed by as many as 28 points in the first half before rallying late in the fourth quarter. The Jazz then scored on seven straight possessions to extend their lead to 69-41 later in the quarter. … The Pistons outscored the Jazz 20-8 in second-chance points and 22-10 in Fastbreak points.

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 32 points to lead the Utah Jazz to a 117-105 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. Jerami Grant scored 27 points to lead Detroit and Josh Jackson added 22. Utah shot 54% from the field in the same stretch. The Jazz then scored on seven straight possessions to extend their lead to 69-41 later in the quarter. … The Pistons outscored the Jazz 20-8 in second-chance points and 22-10 in Fastbreak points.

The revamped Pistons are 5-15 at the 20-game mark, a little more than a quarter of the way through this 72-game season. He has led the team in scoring in 16 games and has tallied more points in his first 20 games as a Piston than anyone in franchise history. Stewart does not back down from anybody and has given the Pistons solid minutes as Mason Plumlee’s backup, averaging 4.8 points and 5.4 rebounds. The Pistons signed him for his second stint with the organization, but he didn’t get off the bench in five of the first six games. Griffin’s rest provided more opportunities for Doumbouya, the 15th pick in 2019, but he hasn’t started any games and is averaging only 12.5 minutes.

Unlike the first night of their back-to-back, the Pistons (5-15) took care of the ball, which coach Dwane Casey said made the difference. “Tonight, he came back and had a very solid, all-around defensive game, rebounding game, scoring game, finishing at the rim,” Casey said. “He brings it every night,” Casey said. James made just one of his five shot attempts in the third, and was scoreless in the fourth, finishing with 22 points. “Energy, I thought just our energy level was high coming off of a flat game last name in Cleveland.”

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) looks to shoot as Detroit Pistons center Mason Plumlee (24) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT – LeBron James made his first seven shots from the field and looked plenty capable of leading the Lakers to a victory with Anthony Davis sidelined. James scored just two points after halftime, and the Detroit Pistons handed Los Angeles its second straight loss, 107-92 on Thursday night. "We just didn’t have a great rhythm that second half in any way.”Wayne Ellington added 20 points for the Pistons. Pistons: Detroit made all 13 of its free throws.

Griffin scored 23 points and added six assists Thursday to lead the Pistons past the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers 107-92 at Little Caesars Arena. It was only the second time in 14 games this season Griffin has reached 20 points, the first since Dec. 26. Wayne Ellington scored 20 points, extending his career-best streak of games with 15 or more points to eight. Jerami Grant scored 14 points and Derrick Rose scored 14 off the bench. The Pistons are 6-3 in past eight vs. Lakers, including five in a row at home.

NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)This article first appeared in the Pistons Pivot Newsletter, a periodical newsletter for Pistons fans with breaking news, analysis and more. Welcome to the Pistons Pivot Newsletter, our newest ClickOnDetroit offering for Pistons fans! 🛡️ Missing: Defense (call Dwane Casey if you find it)For the inaugural edition of the Pistons Pivot, we’re going to dive into the most obvious question -- why are the Pistons losing? 🏀 Shoot your shotThanks for reading the Pistons Pivot Newsletter.

(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT – Joel Embiid had 33 points and 14 rebounds, and his two free throws with 7.2 seconds left helped the Philadelphia 76ers seal a 114-110 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. Ben Simmons added 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the 76ers, and he made a couple big free throws of his own in the final minute. Detroit trailed 110-108 after Jerami Grant made a 3-pointer with 28.5 seconds left, but Simmons calmly made two free throws to push the lead to four. “Especially late game.”Delon Wright's layup made it 112-110, but Embiid closed the game out with his free throws and finished 12 of 17 from the line. “Just having that confidence to knock those free throws down in a close game is big right now," teammate Tobias Harris said.

The Detroit Pistons’ return to Little Caesars Arena after a three-game road trip ended with another close loss. Pistons coach Dwane Casey said the Pistons had time to execute and that perhaps the whistle should have been blown sooner. On top of that, the Pistons were cold offensively, making just seven of their 21 shot attempts in the opening quarter. Stewart injects energy coming off the bench: Casey has often praised rookie Isaiah Stewart for his energy and on Friday he showed plenty of it. The Pistons shot 46.9 percent from long range, sinking 15 of their 32 3-point shot attempts.

Blake Griffin struggled (seven points on 2 for 8 shooting, 10 rebounds in 29 minutes). He wasn’t on the floor during a five-minute stretch late in the fourth quarter, returning only after Josh Jackson fouled out with 2:05 to play. Starting guards Wayne Ellington (6 for 10 3-pointers) and Delon Wright scored 18 points each for the Pistons (3-12). After trailing all night, the Pistons took their first lead on Grant’s 3-pointer with 3:21 remaining in the third quarter. Jackson finished with 12 points and Stewart with seven points and 10 rebounds.

MIAMI (AP) — The Miami Heat eventually showed up to a game already behind schedule. Goran Dragic scored 22 points for the Heat, who got 18 apiece from Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn. Heat: Miami has used nine starting lineups through 12 games, with Dragic starting Monday for the first time this season. Miami will visit the Pistons once in the season’s second half. Heat: Visit Toronto in Tampa, Florida, on Wednesday.

4 Texas' scheduled basketball game at Iowa State on Wednesday night has been postponed. N.C. State announced a cluster of cases associated with Wolfpack athletics on Wednesday, though it didn’t specify which programs were involved. A day later, the ACC announced that the Wolfpack's home men’s basketball game Saturday against Georgia Tech would be postponed. That marked the first home game this season that the Packers played in front of any paying spectators. The Cornhuskers’ home game against Minnesota on Wednesday and game at Iowa next Sunday have been postponed.

Isaiah Stewart of the Detroit Pistons and Precious Achiuwa of the Miami Heat battle for a rebound during the third quarter at American Airlines Arena on January 16, 2021 in Miami, Florida. And last season’s NBA Finals trip for the Miami Heat suddenly seems long ago. It was the biggest margin the Pistons outscored an opponent by in their last 331 quarters, going back to April 9, 2019. “We didn't play to ... the Miami Heat culture that we represent," Adebayo said. “It's part of our new NBA," Pistons coach Dwane Casey said.

DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons got off to slow start on Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Bucks. He ended the night as the Pistons’ second-leading scorer with 18 points, going 6-of-9 overall and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc. The Pistons had some trouble holding onto the ball, which the Bucks capitalized on by scoring 18 points off 11 turnovers. While they were able to take care of it in the second half, the damage from the first was already done. The Pistons cut down on the Bucks’ shots beyond the arc in the second half as they tried to make a comeback before the intermission.

The Pistons did not qualify for the Orlando bubble, so their season ended on March 11, and Griffin ended up missing out on basketball for an entire year. Since returning to the court, Griffin has played six games and is averaging 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists. Griffin played 40 minutes in the double-overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 26, the second game of the season, and was rested the next game in Atlanta. It’s the second time this season that Griffin has played in consecutive games. The third-year Pistons head coach described Griffin as chomping at the bit to get back to some sense of normalcy.

DETROIT -- For the second time this season the Detroit Pistons fought their way past regulation time. The Pistons (2-7) found the intensity needed to go up against what head coach Dwane Casey called an offensive juggernaut. The Suns came out blazing in the third, but the Pistons found their rhythm to pull within four, their smallest deficit since the first quarter. The Pistons also had help from guard Delon Wright, who had 16 points, five rebounds and six assists. After the defense slumped a little the game before, the Pistons ended the night with a season-high 12 steals and forced Phoenix into 20 turnovers.

(AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)MILWAUKEE – Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 43 points and the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Detroit Pistons 125-115 on Monday night to move above the .500 mark for the first time this season. The reigning two-time MVP scored 30 points by halftime, shot 17 of 24 from the floor overall and finished with nine rebounds. Antetokounmpo said he might have gotten a little more room to operate inside because the Bucks (4-3) have shot so well from 3-point range lately. Bucks: Milwaukee didn’t have reserve guards Pat Connaughton or Sam Merrill available. This is the Pistons’ second straight back-to-back set, as they split two home games with Boston on Friday and Sunday.

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, right, drives against Detroit Pistons center Mason Plumlee during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)Jayson Tatum hit a fallaway as Blake Griffin stumbled with 2.9 seconds left, then tied up the Detroit veteran on the other end to help the Boston Celtics beat the Pistons 122-120 on Sunday for a weekend split. The Celtics shot a season-best 57%. “It seems like they made every shot, especially Brown,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. Mykhailiuk scored eight straight Detroit points, and the Pistons took a 118-117 lead on Mason Plumlee’s free throws with 42.2 seconds left.

Jayson Tatum sank a 16-foot fadeaway jump shot with 2.9 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, lifting the Boston Celtics to a 122-120 victory over the Detroit Pistons Sunday at Little Caesars Arena. The Pistons (1-5) were seeking their second victory in a row against Boston. Jerami Grant scored 22 points, including a pair of free throws that tied the game with 22 seconds to play, setting up Tatum’s game-winning shot. The Celtics led most of the second half before Svi Mykhailiuk heated up in the fourth quarter. The first half featured 11 lead changes and ended with Boston on top 61-57 after Brown scored the Celtics’ final nine points of the second quarter.

Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr holds a court diagram during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)DETROIT – Stephen Curry scored 31 points and Andrew Wiggins added 27 to lift the Golden State Warriors to a 116-106 victory over the winless Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. Rookie big man James Wiseman had a dunk and Wiggins followed with a 3-pointer to cap a 12-0 run that put Golden State up 98-89 in the fourth quarter. That put the Warriors up by six and sent several Golden State players spilling from the bench area in excitement. Golden State went on a 17-3 run early in the third, but Detroit stayed close well into the fourth.

Stephen Curry scored 31 points and Andrew Wiggins added 27 to lift the Golden State Warriors to a 116-106 victory over the winless Detroit Pistons on Tuesday night. The injury-plagued Warriors have won two in a row after dropping their first two games by a combined 65 points. That put the Warriors up by six and sent several Golden State players spilling from the bench area in excitement. Golden State went on a 17-3 run early in the third, but Detroit stayed close well into the fourth. … Golden State improved to 9-22 in regular-season games without both Green and Thompson in the lineup since 2012-13.

When Blake Griffin exited Tuesday’s game late in the first half, the Detroit Pistons’ chances of winning their first game diminished considerably. Rose, after missing 11-of-12 shots through three quarters, made his first four shots in the fourth to give the Pistons an 89-86 lead. Griffin did not play in the second half due to concussion protocol. He was shaken up after taking an inadvertent elbow to the face from rookie James Wiseman in the second quarter. The Warriors, already missing Klay Thompson for the season (Achilles tendon), once again played without Draymond Green (sore foot).

The Detroit Pistons hit court just under 24-hours after playing in Atlanta. On Tuesday night they’ll host Golden State Warriors. Who: Detroit Pistons (0-3) vs. Golden State Warriors (1-2)When: Tuesday, Dec. 28Time: 7 p.m. Golden State will also be without Marquese Chriss, leaving the team with a thin frontcourt. Golden State also has rookie James Wiseman, who is averaging 14.7 points through three games.

Trae Young scored 29 points, Bogdan Bogdanovic added 17 and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Detroit Pistons 128-120 in their home opener Monday night. Collins hit two free throws and Young sealed it with four free throws in the final minute. The Hawks made 16 of their first 25 shots before the Pistons went on a 13-2 run to pull within two in the second quarter, but Atlanta got hot again. Hawks: Atlanta was short-handed, too, with Danilo Gallinari unable to play because of a left foot contusion. … The Hawks announced after the game that Okongwu and Snell have been cleared to progress to live contact workouts.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Josh Jackson #20 of the Detroit Pistons drives against Clint Capela #15 of the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at State Farm Arena on December 28, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)ATLANTA – Trae Young scored 29 points, Bogdan Bogdanovic added 17 and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Detroit Pistons 128-120 in their home opener Monday night. Collins hit two free throws and Young sealed it with four free throws in the final minute. Hawks: Atlanta was short-handed, too, with Danilo Gallinari unable to play because of a left foot contusion. The Hawks announced after the game that Okongwu and Snell have been cleared to progress to live contact workouts.

ATLANTA (AP) — Trae Young scored 29 points, Bogdan Bogdanovic added 17 and the Atlanta Hawks beat the Detroit Pistons 128-120 in their home opener Monday night. Collins hit two free throws and Young sealed it with four free throws in the final minute. ... Sekou Doumbouya has a sore right foot. Hawks: Atlanta was short-handed, too, with Danilo Gallinari unable to play because of a left foot contusion. Kris Dunn (right knee cartilage pain), Onyeka Okongwu (left foot inflammation, sesamoid bone, left foot) and Tony Snell (right foot inflammation) also missed the game.

(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)Pistons fans will likely see more of rookie point guard Killian Hayes on Monday night vs. the Atlanta Hawks as the team rests its two veteran stars. Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose will both sit out Monday’s game after logging heavy minutes in a double-overtime loss against Cleveland on Saturday. Pistons will look a little different tonight with Blake Griffin (injury management) & Derrick Rose (rest) out after heavy minutes in 2OT opener Saturday. — Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) December 28, 2020Griffin played 44 minutes, scoring 26 points, while Rose played 33 minutes, scoring 13 points. In the first two games, Hayes has averaged 20 minutes and five points per game.

The Detroit Pistons listed both Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose out ahead of Monday night’s matchup against the Atlanta Hawks. Griffin will be out due to “left knee/injury management” while Rose will be out due to rest. Griffin saw 44 minutes of action and Rose played 33 minutes. Both had injuries in Saturday’s game. The Pistons and Hawks tip off at 7:30 p.m. Monday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

DETROIT -- For the second time during the regular season, the Detroit Pistons drew first blood and established a healthy lead. For the second time during the regular season, the Pistons gave up that lead late in the game. Ahead of the season, Casey warned that taking care of the ball would be the team’s biggest challenge. Return of Andre Drummond: The Pistons dealt Andre Drummond to the Cavaliers in February, which signaled the beginning of the rebuild. Ahead of the game, Pistons announcer John Mason welcomed Drummond back when announcing the starting lineups.

But that’s all the points the Pistons scored in the initial OT. Consecutive layups by Sexton and a 3-pointer from Garland got the Cavs rolling in the second OT, in which they outscored Detroit 16-7. The Pistons undoubtedly felt they let another one slip away after faltering late in the fourth quarter of their season opener Wednesday at Minnesota. Garland and Osman remained hot in the second quarter and Cleveland took a 59-53 lead into halftime. He left the game with 9:45 remaining in the second quarter after being whacked in the face by Drummond while having a shot blocked.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Malik Beasley scored 23 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 22 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, leading the Minnesota Timberwolves’ rally to beat the Detroit Pistons 111-101 on Wednesday night in the season opener. Josh Jackson (19 points) and Derrick Rose (15 points) provided plenty of production off the bench, but the Pistons sputtered down the stretch as the Timberwolves cranked up their defense and were outscored 31-16 in the fourth quarter. Towns, who made Minnesota’s first basket after an 0-for-7 start, gave the Timberwolves their first lead at 98-97 on a 3-pointer with 3:38 remaining. Blake Griffin, the six-time All-Star, had 15 points and seven rebounds after his 2019-20 season was limited to 18 games by an injury to the left knee that has hampered him throughout his career. Timberwolves: Start a three-game road trip at Utah on Saturday.

The Detroit Pistons open the season Wednesday at Minnesota, their first meaningful game in more than nine months. Here are 10 key questions heading into the season:Can Pistons contend for a playoff spot? They will need others to compensate, including Mykhailiuk, Grant, Wright, Josh Jackson, Wayne Ellington and perhaps Doumbouya and Griffin. The Pistons did not experiment with their starting lineup in exhibitions and apparently will go with Hayes, Wright, Grant, Griffin and Mason Plumlee. The second unit will feature Rose, Jackson, Mykhailiuk and Jahlil Okafor.

The Pistons will begin the 72-game pandemic-altered 2020-21 season Wednesday with 11 new players and four different starters from the team that finished 20-46. “We have a lot of young players and (some) days they are going to look like kings of the mountain and other days they’re not,” Casey said. If the preseason was an indication – and it likely was – the Pistons will be much better defensively than offensively. “Our defense, everyone is dialed in, understanding rotations, positioning, understanding our zone defenses,” Casey said. We need to do a better job of taking care of the ball and then the offense is going to come.

The Pistons’ wheeling and dealing also meant they ended up with three first-round draft picks this year. GRIFFIN’S HEALTHGriffin had a terrific 2018-19, but he was limited in the playoffs that season and played only 18 games last season. That’s been an all-too-familiar problem for Griffin with both the Pistons and the Los Angeles Clippers. He turns 20 on Dec. 23, the day the Pistons are scheduled to open their season at Minnesota. Stewart averaged 17 points last season as a freshman at Washington, and Bey averaged 16.1 points as a sophomore at Villanova.

But they need proven, experienced players to not only help them win games but also aid in the development of rookies and younger players. “Our philosophy is build up from the young guys plus some veteran teachers, mentors, guys who still are productive and very good players. Our veterans have done an excellent job of teaching, showing the young guys what to do, demonstrating it with their actions and their habits in practice. Plumlee said on Tuesday that Isaiah Stewart has the best attitude he has seen from a young player. “Wayne Ellington has been a great leader in shooting drills, talking to young players, understanding who he is and where he is in his career,” Casey said.

DETROIT -- Second-year forward Sekou Doumbouya received praise for the gains he made during the Detroit Pistons’ long offseason. Fans got a peek at some of those improvements Sunday during the Pistons’ 99-91 exhibition victory over the New York Knicks. Seeing Doumbouya open and sensing the pressure, Okafor lobbed the ball over to the 19-year-old who bounced up for the dunk. To do that, Doumbouya focused on his energy level regardless of the amount of time on the clock and the score. More:Pistons not fazed about poor shooting, turnovers early in preseasonSekou Doumbouya sparks Pistons’ preseason victory over KnicksDwane Casey praises rookies’ compete level in preseason opener

LiAngelo Ball is hoping to follow his more celebrated brothers into the NBA. The Pistons on Monday waived Ball, Louis King and Anthony Lamb, trimming their training camp roster to 17. The Pistons signed Ball to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract 11 days ago. King, a 6-7 forward, appeared in 10 games for the Pistons in 2019-20 while on a two-way contract. We got to be smart, very smart going on this next stretch of a week or so, and then 72 (regular season) games is going to be a lot of games.

DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons were far from crisp Friday when they returned to the court for the first time in nine months with a revamped roster. The Pistons shot 33 percent from the floor (26-of-80), including 26 percent from 3-point range (10-of-39). The Knicks, who like the Pistons hadn’t played a game since March 11, shot 46 percent, and had a 54-41 edge on the boards. Svi Mykhailiuk and rookie Saddiq Bey led the Pistons with 14 points each off the bench. The Pistons and Knicks meet again Sunday (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit).

The Detroit Pistons open the preseason against the New York Knicks at Little Caesars Arena (7 p.m., Fox Sports Detroit), with no fans in the stands and a little uncertainty about how the season will unfold in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. I think the NBA and NBPA have done a great job putting together a plan that keeps us safe first and foremost. “We have a lot of new guys, but I think we have a great group of guys, great teammates, great people,” Griffin said. It also will be the team’s first chance to see free agents Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee, Jahlil Okafor and Josh Jackson as Pistons. But not only is the league prepared for it, they anticipate it and have protocols for that.”More: Five things to watch from Pistons in preseason

Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin is encouraging people to continue their efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and to get the vaccine when it becomes available. Griffin said he is eager to be part of Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s bipartisan commission within the state’s health department to educate residents on the safety and effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccine. Let’s all continue to do our part.”The commission will advise the governor and the DHHS and help promote the importance of an approved COVID-19 vaccine. Whitmer forms commission to educate Michigan residents about coronavirus vaccine

Here are five things to watch for from the Pistons in the preseason:How will Killian Hayes handle the starting point guard spot? Being surrounded by other ball-handers, like Blake Griffin, Jerami Grant and, if he starts at shooting guard, Delon Wright, should take some pressure off. Who will emerge as the starting shooting guard? Grant will have a better opportunity to show his scoring potential in Detroit than he did on a strong Denver team. More:Svi Mykhailiuk’s 3-point shooting more vital to new-look PistonsMany rotation questions yet to be answered for Pistons

DETROIT -- The Detroit Pistons have a lot of moving parts and options on where each could go. This year’s pandemic condensed the NBA’s offseason timeline as they look to keep their calendar as normal as possible. The Pistons acquired and signed a number of players who bring length and versatility on both sides of the ball. “So different situations will call for different skills and I think that’s where that flexibility will come in,” Casey said. Because, again, different nights are going to call for different things, different combinations.

This doesn’t surprise Pistons coach Dwane Casey, who called Villanova one of the best programs for preparing NBA players because of Jay Wright’s coaching. “I’ve had three Villanova players in Toronto and one in Minnesota and all of them are well-coached,” Casey said. “Saddiq has had a lot of fundamental teaching all throughout his career and you can see it on the floor. But his defensive ability will determine how much he plays when the Pistons open the regular season on Dec. 23. “He doesn’t try to label you, he tries to help you in every skill-set, teaches you how to play hard and together and for each other.