WASHINGTON WIZARDS

Isaiah Livers scored 20 points to lead the Detroit Pistons to a 105-99 victory Saturday over the Washington Wizards in a Las Vegas Summer League game that was overshadowed by Jaden Ivey’s ankle injury. Ivey has scored 11 points in five minutes before the injury. Braxton Key collected 14 points and seven Pistons scored in double figures. Cade Cunningham, Saddiq Bey and Killian Hayes did not play for Detroit, who play Indiana on Tuesday (9 p.m., NBA TV). More: Ivey shines in Pistons’ Summer League opener

Bradley Beal and the Wizards renewed their commitment to each other when he agreed to a five-year deal worth up to $251 million to stay in Washington.

Jalen Duren got the party started, and Jaden Ivey sealed the deal as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Portland Trailblazers, 81-78, in the 2022 NBA 2K23 Summer League Midnight Madness at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The NBA generated more basketball related income than ever this past season, the total number coming up just short of $9 billion.

Bradley Beal and the Washington Wizards have agreed on a five-year contract that could pay him as much as $251 million -- one of the largest contracts in NBA history.

FLINT, MI -- Kyle Kuzma and Monte Morris were talking about playing in the National Basketball Assocation together since they were eight years old playing together in the driveway. The Flint duo were reunited via trade on Wednesday, June 29, after the Denver Nuggets sent Morris and guard Will Barton to the Washington Wizards in exchange for former Detroit Pistons Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith.

FLINT – Monte Morris and Kyle Kuzma, who grew up playing basketball together in Flint, are being reunited on the world’s biggest stage. According to multiple reports, Morris was traded Wednesday from the Denver Nuggets to the Washington Wizards, where Kuzma spent last season after winning an NBA championship with the Los Angeles Lakers. Morris played high school basketball at Beecher – he was Michigan’s Mr. Basketball in 2013 – while Kuzma spent one year playing at Bentley before transferring to a prep school. The trade sent Morris and fellow guard Will Barton from Denver to Washington in exchange for former Detroit Pistons Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith. Last season, Kuzma started all 66 games he played, averaging 17.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

The Charlotte Hornets have fired coach James Borrego.

The Charlotte Hornets were delayed getting to the arena for their NBA play-in game against the Atlanta Hawks.

DETROIT (AP) — Kristaps Porzingis had 30 points and 10 rebounds and the Washington Wizards held on to beat the Detroit Pistons 100-97 on Friday night. Deni Avdija added 21 points and 10 rebounds to help the Wizards sweep the four-game season series. Marvin Bagley III led Detroit with 25 points, and Cade Cunningham added 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Cunningham’s jumper made it 96-95, and after two Wizards misses, he put Detroit up 97-96 with 45 seconds left. Avdija had 13 points in the quarter as the Wizards outshot Detroit 55% to 29.2%.

Pickswise provides exclusive sports betting content to MLive.com, including picks, analysis, tools, games and sportsbook offers to help bettors get in on the action. Reaching the 20-win mark might have seemed a little unlikely when the Detroit Pistons began the NBA season by losing 24 of their first 28 games. They have a chance to win back-to-back games for only the 6th time this season on Friday night as the 30-42 Washington Wizards visit Little Caesars Arena. The main factor the Wizards have going for them is their strong head-to-head record against the Pistons. With Cade Cunningham and Jerami Grant both healthy again, the Pistons are not far from being a .500 team in March.

Watch the Detroit Pistons on DirecTV StreamDetroit is coming off another win over the Atlanta Hawks, taking down the 10th-place team with ease, winning by a final score of 122-101. One of the teams trailing the Hawks, and might have received some help from the Pistons’ win, was the Washington Wizards. Yet, Washington has handled the Pistons so far this season, winning each of the first three meetings, a 116-113 win in D.C. back on March 1. Check out more stories about the Detroit Pistons here on MLiveWhat: NBA BasketballWho: Washington Wizards (30-41) vs. Detroit Pistons (20-53)When: Friday, March 25Time: 7:00 p.m. ETWhere: Little Caesars Arena (Detroit, Mich.)Channel: Bally Sports DetroitStream: DirecTV StreamCheck out the NBA standings and results on NBA.com

Michael Jordan retires at the age of 40 for the third and final time after an illustrious basketball career. Jordan receives several ovations through the game from the last sellout crowd that will ever watch him play. Jordan says he’s come to grips with the fact he’ll not be in a uniform anymore with this his final retirement.

LeBron James passed Karl Malone for second place on the NBA’s career scoring list, but it was part of another loss for his Los Angeles Lakers when the Washington Wizards rallied from a 16-point deficit to win 127-119.

Here’s a look at some picks for NBA games on Tuesday, March 15, 2022.

Stephen Curry dazzled for 47 points on his 34th birthday, Draymond Green returned from a 29-game absence to ignite the defense, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Washington Wizards 126-112.

Jayson Tatum had 31 points and eight rebounds, Jaylen Brown added 22 points and eight rebounds and the Boston Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons 114-103 on Friday night for their fifth victory in a row.

Kristaps Porzingis scored 25 points in his first game for Washington, and the Wizards beat the Indiana Pacers 133-123.

Here’s a look at some picks for NBA games on Friday, March 4, 2022.

Kyle Kuzma scored 21 points and Thomas Bryant added 16, and the Washington Wizards won their 14th straight home meeting with Detroit, holding off the Pistons 116-113.

Kyle Kuzma scored 21 points and Thomas Bryant added 16, and the Washington Wizards won their 14th straight home meeting with Detroit, holding off the Pistons 116-113 on Tuesday night.

In the Wizards’ second attempt to run away with the game, Kyle Kuzma capitalized on several trips to the line. Wizards guard Ish Smith hit a jumper to kick off the scoring in the final quarter before Thomas Bryant made a layup and drew a foul. The 27-year-old helped to kickstart the Pistons’ scoring in the second quarter after going scoreless in the opening frame. The Pistons had a solid offensive start and never allowed the Wizards to score more than seven points in the first half. A pair of threes from Hachimura quickly erased the Pistons’ lead and a dunk from Bryant gave the Wizards the final go-ahead of the game.

A couple of days removed from an exciting win, the Detroit Pistons stay on the road for a clash with the Washington Wizards, as they look to win back-to-back games on Tuesday night. The Pistons are back out of the cellar after an intense win over the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night. Kelly Olynyk hits the game winner vs. Hornets 🔥 pic.twitter.com/vcolsKgngD — NBA TV (@NBATV) February 28, 2022Watch the Detroit Pistons on DirecTV StreamOlynyk ended up scoring 20 points in the contest, while Saddiq Bey led Detroit with 28 points. Check out more stories about the Detroit Pistons here on MLiveWhat: NBA BasketballWho: Detroit Pistons (15-46) vs. Washington Wizards (27-33)When: Tuesday, March 1Time: 7:00 p.m. ETWhere: Capital One Arena (Washington, D.C.)Channel: Bally Sports DetroitStream: DirecTV StreamCheck out the NBA standings and results on NBA.com

The Detroit Pistons current losing streak has reached eight games after faltering to the Washington Wizards on Monday night. Now, the Pistons look to try and snap the skid before the All-Star Break when they take on the Boston Celtics for the second time in a couple weeks. Watch the Detroit Pistons on DirecTV StreamThe loss also marked the first time in nine games the Pistons failed to hit the century mark. These two teams met in Detroit on the first Friday of this month, with Boston coming away with a 102-93 win. What: NBA BasketballWho: Detroit Pistons (12-45) vs. Boston Celtics (33-25)When: Wednesday, February 16Time: 7:30 p.m.

The Detroit Pistons needed size and athleticism in their frontcourt. On Monday, they got their first look at what the newest addition to the team, Marvin Bagley, could bring. Detroit acquired Bagley at last Thursday’s trade deadline and in his first game in a Pistons uniform he did not disappoint. The 22-year-old is still building chemistry with his new teammates and the Wizards took advantage of it toward the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second. Bagley didn’t have any minutes alongside Isaiah Stewart but that was mostly due to the Pistons’ attempt to maximize their matchups against the Wizards.

The last time the Detroit Pistons and the Washington Wizards faced off, Flint’s Kyle Kuzma delivered the dagger that sealed his team’s win overtime. The Wizard’s 26-year-old scored 17 of his 23 points in the third quarter to give the Wizards a comfortable lead heading into the final quarter. He made all but one of his eight shot attempts from the floor as he helped the Wizards down the Pistons 103-94. Detroit fell behind by 12 in the second quarter as its second unit worked to build chemistry. Detroit ended the second quarter on a 20-8 run, the last time it threatened Washington with a significant run.

Another disappointing performance on their own floor, the Detroit Pistons losing streak continues, and will try and to get back in the win column when they head to the nation’s capital for a Valentine’s Day meeting with the Washington Wizards. Fatigue was apparent in the Pistons’ second half of their back-to-back when they took on the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night. Watch the Detroit Pistons on DirecTV StreamIn his return to the lineup, Cunningham played well, scoring 12 points, while Isaiah Stewart registered his eighth double-double of the season, scoring 15 points, while grabbing 12 rebounds. These two met in Detroit back in the opening week of December, with the Wizards knocking off the Pistons in overtime. Check out more stories about the Detroit Pistons here on MLiveWhat: NBA BasketballWho: Detroit Pistons (12-44) vs. Washington Wizards (25-30)When: Monday, February 14Time: 7:00 p.m.

Deandre Ayton had 20 points and 16 rebounds in an efficient 24 minutes and the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns rebounded from a streak-ending loss to beat the short-handed Washington Wizards 95-80 on Saturday night.

Ja Morant scored 34 points, his sixth straight game of at least 30 points, and the Memphis Grizzlies built an early lead in a 115-95 victory over the Washington Wizards on Saturday night.

Luke Kennard scored seven points inside the final 9 seconds, including a go-ahead four-point play with 1.9 seconds remaining, and the Los Angeles Clippers overcame a 35-point first-half deficit to stun the Washington Wizards 116-115.

With minutes left to play against the Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets assistant coach David Vanterpool reached into the game to deflect the ball. Both he and the Nets team were fined.

Zach LaVine scored 27 points, Coby White added 21 and the Chicago Bulls won their ninth straight game, beating the Washington Wizards 130-122.

The NBA has postponed Miami's game at San Antonio after a combination of injuries and positive COVID-19 tests left the Heat unable to meet the league’s requirement of having eight available players.

JaVale McGee scored 17 points, Deandre Ayton added 15 and the Phoenix Suns cruised to a 118-98 victory over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night.

Through they played hard in an overtime thriller on Wednesday night, the Detroit Pistons’ losing streak continues. They will try and break the trend, again, when they hit the road to the Big Easy for a meeting with the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday night. Grant finished the game leading the whole floor with 28 points, while Cunningham had another solid outing, scoring 21 points. Without former standout prospect Zion Williamson in the fold, New Orleans has relied on Brandon Ingram to carry the offense. Check out more stories about the Detroit Pistons here on MLiveWhat: NBA BasketballWho: Detroit Pistons (4-20) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (7-20)When: Friday, December 10Time: 8:00 p.m.

DETROIT-- The 119-116 loss to the Washington Wizards was not ideal but it showed that the Detroit Pistons have the grit that became a part of their identity a season ago. Detroit pushed Wednesday’s matchup into overtime after falling behind by 13 points in the third quarter, signaling that there is plenty of fight in this team. The Pistons led the game at the half but struggled to find their rhythm when they returned from the locker room. The Wizards took control of the game, scoring 37 points in the third quarter and opened the fourth quarter on an 8-0 run.

Kyle Kuzma hit a 3 with 0.6 seconds left in overtime and the Washington Wizards handed the Detroit Pistons their 10th straight loss, 119-116.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Pistons got out to a solid lead to start Wednesday night’s contest against the Washington Wizards. Pistons rookie guard Cade Cunningham scored six-straight points in overtime, the Wizards made the final shot to win 119-116. Flint native, Kyle Kuzma delivered the final blow, a three-pointer from the corner leaving just .6 seconds on the clock. Then Stewart and Jerami Grant each split a pair of free throws before Grant hit a layup to cut the Wizards’ lead to five. Second-year center Isaiah Stewart scored 11 points and had 10 rebounds on the night.

After another debilitating loss on Monday, the Detroit Pistons’ losing streak continues in this quick homestand. Now they are going to try and end this skid when they welcome a vastly-improved Washington Wizards squad on Wednesday night. Now, Detroit gets to take on the Washington Wizards, who have been one of the surprising teams at the start of this season. Check out more stories about the Detroit Pistons here on MLiveWhat: NBA BasketballWho: Washington Wizards (14-11) vs. Detroit Pistons (4-19)When: Wednesday, December 8Time: 7:00 p.m. ETWhere: Little Caesars Arena (Detroit, Mich.)Channel: Bally Sports DetroitStream: DirecTV StreamCheck out the NBA standings and results on NBA.com

Webull CEO Anthony Denier calls its deal with the Nets a "coming-out party" in sports sponsorships.

The Washington Wizards have agreed to send superstar Russell Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Los Angeles Lakers are acquiring All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards for three players and this year’s first-round draft pick.

The Washington Wizards have hired Wes Unseld Jr. as their coach.

A person with knowledge of the situation says U.S. Olympic guard Bradley Beal has entered the health and safety protocols related to the coronavirus, which raises the possibility that he might miss the Tokyo Games.

Keep track of all the players who have committed to Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics.

The Washington Wizards have decided to move on from coach Scott Brooks after five seasons.

Steph Curry scored 30 points, Tobias Harris had 28 and the Philadelphia 76ers finished off the Washington Wizards in five games with a 29-112 victory Wednesday night.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is doubtful for Game 5 because of a sore right knee.

The man ran on the court and touched the backboard​ before being tackled by a security guard.

Philadelphia center Joel Embiid left in the first quarter with a sore right knee and the 76ers lost Game 4 of their playoff series against the Washington Wizards 122-114.

A fan has been tackled as he tried to get on the court during an NBA playoff game between the Wizards and 76ers.

Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid headed to the locker room late in the first quarter of Game 4 of their Eastern Conference playoff series against the Washington Wizards after taking a hard fall and landing on his backside.

Joel Embiid scored a career playoff high 36 points to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 132-103 rout of the Washington Wizards and a 3-0 lead in the first-round series.

The NBA issued a statement pledging to "vigorously" enforce its code of conduct for fans.

Virtually all of Canada’s top NBA players, excluding those who are injured, have accepted invitations to attend training camp next month in advance of that country’s last chance to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics.

The New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers and Utah Jazz all say they have banned fans after incidents in their respective arenas.

Ben Simmons put a spin move on Russell Westbrook that sent him sprawling to the floor several minutes before a leg injury sent the NBA’s triple-double king to the locker room.

The first full-service sportsbook at a major sports arena or stadium in the United States has opened in Washington.

Philly certainly started on the right foot, taking game one of their best-of-seven series against the Washington Wizards on Sunday, winning by a final score of 125-118. Watch the NBA Playoffs on FuboTV (7-day free trial)It was not a cake walk for the Sixers by any stretch. The Wizards held a 28-27 lead by the end of the first quarter, and took the lead into halftime. What: NBA Eastern Conference PlayoffsWho: (8) Washington Wizards vs. (1) Philadelphia 76ers (Sixers lead 1-0)When: Wednesday, May 26Time: 7:00 p.m. ETWhere: Wells Fargo Center (Philadelphia, Pa.)Channel: NBA TVStream: FuboTV (7-day free trial)

Doc Rivers can’t fathom criticism of Ben Simmons, especially after the three-time All-Star became just the sixth player in NBA history to have at least 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a playoff game.

Tobias Harris scored 37 points and Joel Embiid had 30 points, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 125-118 victory over the Washington Wizards in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.

The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to make quick work of the Washington Wizards as they open their first-round playoff series on Sunday.

Russell Westbrook nearly had a triple-double and Bradley Beal scored 25 points in just 29 minutes to help the Washington Wizards reach the NBA playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s No. 8 seed by overwhelming the Indiana Pacers 142-115 in the play-in round.

Jayson Tatum scored 32 of his 50 points in the second half, and the Boston Celtics rallied to beat the Washington Wizards 118-100 in the play-in round.

Russell Westbrook got his first triple-double since passing Oscar Robertson and becoming the NBA's career leader earlier in the week and Washington beat Cleveland 120-105 to clinch a spot in the East play-in tournament.

Russell Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson’s 47-year-old NBA record for triple-doubles and missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer as the Washington Wizards lost 125-124 to the Atlanta Hawks.

Russell Westbrook has set the NBA record with his 182nd triple-double, surpassing the mark set by Oscar Robertson in 1974.

Russell Westbrook tied Oscar Robertson’s NBA record for triple-doubles with 181, finishing with 33 points, 19 rebounds and 15 assists, and made two free throws with a second left to give Washington a 133-132 overtime victory over Indiana on Saturday night.

Russell Westbrook had the third game in NBA history with 20-plus rebounds and 20-plus assists, and the surging Washington Wizards moved closer to Indiana in the Eastern Conference playoff standings.

Russell Westbrook had another triple-double in his return to Oklahoma City, and the Washington Wizards beat the Thunder 129-109 for their seventh straight win.

Stephen Curry had his first rough night in a month, and Bradley Beal rallied Washington in the fourth quarter for its season-best sixth straight victory, 118-114 over the Golden State Warriors.

The Detroit Pistons fell to the Washington Wizards on Saturday night. Detroit allowed Washington to score 18 points off of 18 turnovers while being limited to 44 percent shooting from the field and 33 percent shooting from three. Washington shot 53.2 percent (50-94) from the field and made nine of their 16 shot attempts (.562) from three. He followed up his 21-rebound night against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday with 12 rebounds in Washington. Unfortunately, with Detroit’s starters combining for 45 points, it was not enough to lift the team to a win.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russell Westbrook had his 25th triple-double of the season, Bradley Beal scored 37 points and the Washington Wizards beat the Detroit Pistons 121-100 on Saturday night. Westbrook finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists in the fourth straight win for Washington (23-33), which continues its late-season push. Josh Jackson scored 17 as the Pistons failed in their attempt to win consecutive games for only the third time this season. TIP-INSPistons: G Rodney McGruder (sprained right elbow), G Dennis Smith (sore left knee) and F Sekou Doumbouya (neck soreness) were out. Wizards: F Davis Bertans missed his second straight game because his wife gave birth to a baby boy.

The Detroit Pistons wrap up a home and away back-to-back with a trip East to face the Washington Wizards. The two teams have split their previous two meetings and Detroit will look to walk away with a win. The Pistons will look to make plenty of stops since the Wizards on average score 113.8 points per game. Detroit won’t have rookie point guard Killian Hayes, who typically sits out on the second game of a back-to-back. Who: Detroit Pistons (16-37) at Washington Wizards (22-33)When: Saturday, April 17Time: 8 p.m.

The NBA’s Washington Wizards and NHL’s Washington Capitals have announced the dates this month when they will start to allow fans at home games at 10% of their capacity.

Nikola Jokic scored 27 points in leading the Denver Nuggets past the Detroit Pistons 134-119 Tuesday night.

The Detroit Pistons turned the page and shifted focus as they worked to defeat the Washington Wizards after a lackluster outing the night before. Jackson also helped the Pistons limit the Wizards to just 91 points on 40-of-85 shooting. Heading into the game, the Wizards ranked ninth in the NBA in points, scoring on average 114.5 points per game. Though the Wizards outscored the Pistons inside the paint by two points, the Pistons played solid defense to close off lanes. The Wizards made 49 shot attempts in the paint as the Pistons cut off their options while limiting trips to the line.

Josh Jackson scored 19 of his season-high 31 points in the first half and the Detroit Pistons went on to rout the Washington Wizards 120-91.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Pistons showed little signs of a team that played and lost the day before. But on Thursday night, the Pistons mustered up some energy to down the Washington Wizards 120-91 at Little Caesars Arena. The Pistons (14-34) had some serious jolts of energy from Josh Jackson, who showed little indication of recent offensive troubles. Jackson ended the night with 31 points on 13-of-21 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three, one of his most efficient games this season. The last time Jackson had such a strong night was when the Pistons beat the Los Angeles Lakers at LCA on Feb. 6.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russell Westbrook had 19 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Washington Wizards completed a 106-92 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night after All-Star guard Bradley Beal’s injury-shortened outing. Beal had 17 points in 21 minutes before the NBA’s leading scorer departed early in the third quarter, having started the game with a sore right foot. After nearly giving back a 30-point lead, Westbrook’s NBA-best 15th triple-double helped the Wizards secure just their second win in 10 games since the All-Star break. Wayne Ellington scored 15 points for the last-place Pistons, who have lost four in a row and 14 of their last 18. Beal appeared to pick up or aggravate an injury late in the second quarter on an awkward fall after driving and charging into Detroit’s Saddiq Bey.

Early thinking within league circles suggests the NBA will seek a $75 billion rights package, up from its current $24 billion deal, which pays $2.6 billion per year. One person familiar with sports media deals said the NBA could get $70.2 billion over nine years, using metrics including total viewer hours, which helps networks determine the value of sports league rights. Should the NBA triple its rights and replicate its nine-year deal length, it would generate around $7 billion to $8 billion per season. The NBA also has a $1.5 billion streaming deal with Chinese-based company Tencent Holdings. The NBA has a good reason to seek more money for its rights.

Russell Westbrook #4 of the Washington Wizards reacts prior to playing against the Denver Nuggets at Capital One Arena on February 17, 2021 in Washington, DC. National Basketball Association star Russell Westbrook has joined financial tech firm Varo Bank as a new investor after the company raised $63 million in a new funding round. Varo Bank announced the funding round on Thursday, adding Westbrook's investment was made through his enterprise firm. Investment company Jefferies Group advised Westbrook in the transition. In his first year with the Washington Wizards, Westbrook is averaging 18.9 points, 9.4 rebounds and 9.5 assists.

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns, whose mother and six other relatives have died from COVID-19, announced Friday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus. Another three NBA games were postponed Friday, including one in Minnesota only a couple hours before game time. The Timberwolves' game with the Memphis Grizzlies was called off, as were what would have been Wizards home games Sunday and Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Celtics returned to the floor Friday night against Orlando, Boston's first game in a week. The NBA said earlier this week that 16 players tested positive in recent days, which was more than the NBA had seen in the last five weeks combined.

Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the game against the Washington Wizards on February 1, 2020 at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)Brooklyn Nets stars Kyrie Irving has been fined $50,000 for violating Covid-19 protocols, the National Basketball Association announced Friday. Irving, who the Nets will pay $33 million this season, will forfeit salary for games he missed during his quarantine period. Though Irving sat out the Nets' last five games, he's only being docked for two games and must forgo over $400,000 per game. The NBA said Irving is allowed to return on Saturday if he clears league protocols.

The Detroit Pistons will have one less game to play in the first half of the NBA season. On Wednesday night, the league announced that the Pistons’ game against the Washington Wizards would be postponed. Due to contract tracing within the Wizards, the league announced that they would not have a minimum eight players. Washington has already had one game postponed so far, with the NBA pushing back the team’s matchup against the Utah Jazz. So far, the NBA has postponed nine NBA games due to health and safety concerns.

The Detroit Pistons wrapped up the preseason Saturday with a 99-96 loss to the Washington Wizards and finished 2-2. Here are five takeaways from the Pistons’ preseason:Offense will be an issueThe Pistons averaged only 94 points per game in their exhibitions, which tied for last in the NBA, shot 41 percent (26th) and were turnover-prone (21.5 per game). Defense looks improvedDon’t read too much into preseason results, especially against the Knicks and Wizards, a pair of non-playoff teams. He did not log a lot of minutes in the preseason (15 per game) but averaged 9.3 points (shooting 62 percent) and 3.5 rebounds. A career 30-percent 3-point shooter, he converted on 50 percent of shots from distance in the preseason (9-of-18).

The Detroit Pistons are encouraged to see improvement in two areas of Josh Jackson’s game – 3-point shooting and ball-handling. Jackson led the Pistons with 17 points off the bench in Thursday’s 97-86 preseason victory over the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena. “Sometimes guys get labeled in certain areas and Josh, unfortunately, is one of those kids that got labeled as an athlete, a cutter,” Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “Neither one of them had big scoring nights but I thought we got a lot done with our defense,” Casey said. I’ve always said the offense will come eventually.”More:Pistons sorting out one backcourt spot in preseasonIsaiah Stewart inspired by documentaries on Bad Boys, Goin’ to Work Pistons

In their 97-86 preseason victory Thursday over the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena, the Pistons showed a glimpse of it. Newly acquired guard Delon Wright helped the Pistons establish their early lead after swiping a bad pass from the Wizards. “I’m just getting more comfortable with the team,” Wright said. The energy that the Pistons showed was exactly what coach Dwane Casey wanted to see. “That’s the way we want to play; we have to have that as our identity, being a defensive team first,” Casey said.

The NBA preseason is set and the Detroit Pistons will be back on the court next month. Detroit will play two games at Little Caesars Arena against the New York Knicks and then two games on the road against the Washington Wizards. This will be the first time the Pistons and the Knicks have played competitive basketball against a different team in nine months. The tip-off for all four games is at 7 p.m. Based on guidelines from public health and government officials, fans will not be able to attend preseason games at Little Caesars Arena. Date Opponent Time Location Friday, Dec. 11 vs. New York Knicks 7 p.m. Little Caesars Arena Friday, Dec. 13 vs. New York Knicks 7 p.m. Little Caesars Arena Thursday, Dec. 17 @ Washington Wizards 7 p.m. Capital One Arena Saturday, Dec. 19 @ Washington Wizards 7 p.m. Capital One ArenaThe league will then open its 72-game regular season on Tuesday, Dec. 22.

The Detroit Pistons didnt want to take a six-game losing streak into their longest road trip of the season. Blake Griffin had 14 points, and a season-high 11 rebounds, and Detroit ended a five-game losing streak with a 132-102 rout of the Washington Wizards 132-102 on Thursday night. We didnt play well and they have a great game, Wizards coach Scott Brooks said. The Pistons finished the game with rebounds on 67% of the Wizards missed shots. Markieff Morris had 12 points for the Wizards in that game and scored four for Detroit this year.

PHILADELPHIA NBA shooting guard Bradley Beal, who just signed a $72 million, two-year contract extension with the Washington Wizards, says he's frugal. That doesn't include his recent contract extension or revenue from his endorsement deal with Nike, the terms of which weren't disclosed. Beal's $72 million extension with the Wizards adds two years to his five-year, $127 million contract he signed in 2016. In the first year of the extension, Beal is set to earn about $34 million. Beal and his partner Kamiah Adams announced the birth of their second son, Braylon Elias Beal, on Aug. 30.

The sports betting operation from William Hill US and Monumental Sports & Entertainment will be the first of its kind inside a U.S. sports arena. Capital One Arena is home to the Wizards, Capitals and the Washington Mystics women's pro basketball team. The planned sports book, operated by William Hill, will offer food and drinks alongside betting. "Not only will people be able to go and bet over the counter, but you can bet on your mobile phones anywhere within the arena," William Hill CEO Joseph Asher said. William Hill, founded in 1934 in Britain, established its gaming foothold in the U.S. in Las Vegas about seven years ago.