Detroit Pistons stay cold out West with 107-96 loss to Los Angeles Clippers

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LOS ANGELES — It has been a tough week for the Detroit Pistons. They lost double-digit leads against the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, and were then pummeled by the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks on the road Wednesday.

Their tough schedule continues, as they lost their first game of a four-game West Western Conference road swing, against the Los Angeles Clippers, 107-96. The Pistons trailed by as many as 29, but outscored the Clippers 34-25 in the fourth quarter to make the final score more respectable.

Jerami Grant led the Pistons with 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Trey Lyles scored 13 points off of the bench. Cade Cunningham added 10 points, six assists, six rebounds and three steals. Former Piston Reggie Jackson led all scorers with 21 points, and Terance Mann added 16. Detroit shot just 36.7%, and 24.2% from 3.

Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart, right, struggles with a rebound next to Clippers guard Terance Mann during the first half on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart, right, struggles with a rebound next to Clippers guard Terance Mann during the first half on Friday, Nov. 26, 2021, in Los Angeles.

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Stewart returns from suspension

It's safe to say the Pistons missed Stewart this week. They were already shorthanded at center before Stewart's two-game suspension, with Kelly Olynyk set to miss at least another month as he recovers from a left knee sprain. Before Friday's game, coach Dwane Casey said it was tough without the energy and rebounding Stewart provides.

The Pistons didn't have many bright spots in a blowout loss to the Clippers, but Stewart was impactful as a rebounder, with a team-high 12 rebounds. With Olynyk still out, Lyles and rookie Luka Garza spent time at center.

Pistons' top scorers all slumping

In two games entering Friday, Cunningham shot a combined 5-for-20 and 3-for-13 from 3. He isn't the only Piston that struggled to shoot this week; Jerami Grant and Saddiq Bey have both had a tough time getting their offense going. Grant was a combined 11-for-30 against the Heat and Bucks, and Bey was 10-for-27.

Needless to say, the Pistons won't win many games when those three are shooting under 40%. Things didn't get much better on Friday, as the trio shot a combined 12-for-41 (29.3%).

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. The Free Press has started a new digital subscription model. Here's how you can gain access to our most exclusive Pistons content. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons stay cold with 107-96 loss to Los Angeles Clippers