ATLANTA — Jalen Duren was clearly in pain as he grabbed at his abdominal area. Hawks forward Jalen Johnson had just taken off from the dotted line inside the paint, posterizing the Detroit Pistons starting center and kneeing him in the process. State Farm Arena erupted as Johnson scored his first field goal of the night.
The same action presented itself as Johnson rolled to the basket after setting a screen in the third quarter. Only this time, instead of Duren, backup big man Isaiah Stewart was waiting under the rim. Johnson powered up off one leg again and was stuffed by Stewart. It was Stewart’s second block on a Johnson dunk attempt, and each time he gave a Dikembe Mutombo-esque finger wag.
Stewart’s blocks were just two of the Pistons’ most impressive defensive stops en route to a 114-104 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday. The Pistons (23-21) limited the Hawks to their worst 3-point percentage (15.8) and second-worst field-goal percentage (37.9) of the season. Trae Young managed just 13 points, while De’Andre Hunter missed 12 of 14 shots and all nine of his 3-point attempts.
One of Detroit’s best defensive performances of the season catapulted it past Atlanta for the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference.
While the Pistons likely won’t hold each team they play to under 30 points in each quarter, the effort they gave Wednesday is entirely replicable. And what was most striking after the win was Detroit’s collective desire to resist complacency.
“We’re not a finished product,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “And I think we understand that. Every single day, week by week, month by month, you see these guys getting better. And that’s what our aim is. … Adversity is going to hit, we’re going to have some ups and downs because it’s a long season. But what do you do naturally?
“Our group has continued to naturally improve, face those tough moments together and find a way to come out cleaner on the other side.”
We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again…
NOT IN BEEF STEW’S PAINT‼️ https://t.co/v4bfzRGz0X pic.twitter.com/r7mHuO8XkW
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) January 23, 2025
Cade Cunningham was the best player on the floor Wednesday, as he seems to be on any given night lately. He finished with 29 points and 11 assists, both game-highs, and grabbed six rebounds. But Stewart and Ausar Thompson were two of Detroit’s biggest defensive catalysts.
Thompson had three of the Pistons’ seven steals, and he combined with Stewart for four of Detroit’s 10 blocks. Thompson has been the Pistons’ most effective perimeter defender almost since the moment he was drafted. Stewart has been a respectable defender, but his rim protection this season has been the best of his career.
“He’s a dog,” Duren said of Stewart. “He started the Dawg Pound (Duren and Stewart’s exclusive group within the group). This is what he does every night for us. We were kind of just joking about it, but he kind of just fills up the stat sheet. He’s going to give you some blocks, he’s going to give you some rebounds, he’s going to play his heart out, he’s going to talk s—.
“He’s a great guy to have on your team. When he comes in the game, there’s never any let-up, there’s never any dropoff. You know he’s going to give you everything he’s got.”
Stewart finished with only two points but added 12 rebounds, three blocked shots and three assists. His plus-11 trailed only Tobias Harris. Thompson had his second-highest scoring output of the season with 16 points and made his presence felt defensively. Especially on Young.
“It started with Ausar,” Bickerstaff said. “And throughout his minutes, using his length, using his size and making it difficult on (Young). But again, when you’re guarding a guy like that, it’s never a one-on-one job. It’s about the team. … It’s a five-man job, and I thought our guys did a great job tonight.”
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(Photo of Isaiah Stewart and Vit Krejci: Dale Zanine / Imagn Images)
