Pistons beat the Thunder 88-82, and then things got interesting

BOX SCORE

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — An otherwise pointless, meaningless game got real interesting with a few seconds left. Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka were resting. The Thunder were somehow still competitive despite a 8-28 night from Russell Westbrook. Their eight-game streak was getting snapped, but it didn’t mean anything.

Aron Baynes pulled in the game-sealing rebound and was fouled. The Pistons were up 86-82 with seconds remaining. And Reggie Jackson pranced along the far sideline, waving to the crowd in a fairly animated fashion, before shooting an obvious look over at the Thunder bench.

The Thunder didn’t like it one bit. Especially Russell Westbrook.

“Yeah, I did actually,” Westbrook said when asked if he disapproved. “Honestly, I think that was some real bulls—. I don’t appreciate it for our team and our organization. I don’t like it at all. But it is what it is. We’ll see him down the line. We’ll take care of that when we get there.”

Asked if Jackson’s tense departure contributed, Westbrook said, “It doesn’t matter, man. Honestly, he wasn’t changing nothing for us. Obviously he didn’t want to be here. He’s at a better spot. He’s not doing too much of a difference if you ask me. So, he going to stay over here in Detroit, we’re going to stay over here and we’ll see him next season.”

After Jackson’s celebration, he stood at the free throw line with Steven Adams, engaging in a more-than-something conversation. Jackson played it off, dismissing it as anything. Adams did mostly the same, but did add this:

“Just surprised, really,” Adams said. “Says a lot about him. Keep it up here, though.” Adams pointed to his head. “For next time.”

It’s not like Jackson was all that good in the game, either. He went 4-15 for 13 points and six assists (plus four turnovers) and while he had a late dunk and some big free throws, he got in foul trouble and had some wild plays. Not that Westbrook was himself, but there was no showdown. It was just that Jackson’s full strength team ended up winning the rock fight against the trimmed down Thunder.

There’s obviously a deep history between Jackson and the Thunder — if you need some background — and it’s not going away. Westbrook seemed to make it a point to say “next season” when talking about Jackson, because, you know, the Thunder won’t see the Pistons in the Finals.

So, in terms of the game, who cares I guess? It was closer than it probably should’ve been considering how bad the Thunder played, and really, they had a number of chances to win the stupid game anyway. Westbrook missed some really good looks late, and there were a few breaks that didn’t go their way.

All that is background though. The game didn’t mean anything before it tipped off for the Thunder, except for wanting to beat Jackson’s brains out. And when that failed, and he rubbed their noses in it, that’s when it got interesting.

NOTES:

Anyone else have flashbacks to last season? Felt like I was watching Lance Thomas start all over again. Man, that was a gross time.

It wouldn’t have been shocking for the Thunder to win this game. But they played awful. The Pistons should be ashamed of themselves.

You know who was most disappointing for me? Enes Kanter. He finished with 12 and 14, but missed a bunch of interior looks and really didn’t get in the game until the fourth quarter.

Donovan held it back until the fourth quarter, but the twin tower lineup was extremely effective tonight. But here’s what’s most interesting: The Pistons were small. They had Tobias Harris in, who Adams guarded, and he did an exceptional job. That’s a pretty big development and one that Donovan noted as his main takeaway from the game.

Would’ve liked to see a little Westbrook and Cameron Payne together, especially when things went bad offensively. Could’ve used some more offensive creativity. So much of the game was standing around and hoping Westbrook created something, either for himself or someone else.

For a minute there, it looked like the Thunder might do something. And then the third quarter happened: nine points on 3-20 shooting and seven turnovers. A two-point lead turned into a 14-point deficit.

Did you see the way Payne reacted to Adams missing a bunny that he set up in the early fourth? Can’t be doing that.

I hate to go there, but in the “is Westbrook actually better than Durant?” debate, you have to look at nights like this. Durant affects the game SO MUCH with just his presence.

I understand not having KD and Serge really complicates things, but I don’t know what possessed Donovan to go with Roberson and Singler together in then starting five. If there was an intergalactic war, and the only way we could combat the invading aliens was with terrible offensive basketball, that’s the only purpose I can think those two would serve together for extended minutes.

Man, Reggie got skinny.

Technically, KD gets a DNP-CD because he was active tonight. So Donovan looks like he made the worst coaching move of all time. But the actual reason is, Durant forgot to bring a suit on the trip, so he had to be active and wear warmups.

So, wouldn’t it have been fun if Durant checked himself in the game with three minutes left just to take the win?

Josh Huestis played like real minutes tonight. And actually did some things! This was my favorite game of the season. Huestis played mostly power forward in smallball lineups. Could be an interesting wrinkle in the future, if he actually proves to be a decent player. Huestis has some big time athletic ability and if you could play him alongside Durant as a 3/4 interchangeable combo along with Ibaka, that’s pretty intriguing. Maybe. If Huestis actually is decent.

On Huestis’ first bucket, the PA guy pronounced his name, “Who-ate-us.” Welcome to the NBA, rook.

Might’ve been a nice night to have Mitch McGary, you know? Alas, he was with the Blue.

Westbrook’s free throw shooting has been quite off lately, with all his misses coming up short. Like really short. Like almost airballed short.

Next up: Home against the Clippers on Thursday