The Pistons fell to 6-3 after Sunday’s loss to the Lakers, a game they trailed by as many as 26 points after a dismal first quarter, but Kevin Huerter had his best game for the team and was instrumental in the failed comeback bid, writes By Amari Sankoff II of The Detroit Free Press (subscriber link).
The veteran wing added 24 points (on 9-of-14 shooting), five rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes. Huerter’s top individual highlight was a fantastic pass without looking behind his head Dennis Jenkins to the opposite corner (YouTube is short).
“I didn’t see it, it felt like overflowing paintHuerter said after the game.Kind of knew when I cut it was open on the other side and I threw it where I thought it would go. Fortunately, he made it after the pass.”
Known more for his offense than his defense, Huerter also had a career-high five blocks (his previous best was three) and two steals. Sankofa calls Huerter “a connector on both ends” of the court, and the 28-year-old, who re-signed with the Pistons this summer to a three-year, $27 million deal after they traded for him in February, said he takes it personally when opposing forwards try to force him to perform.
“You get a challengeHuerter said.As a competitor, (coach) JB (Bickerstaff) calls on all of us to stand up and guard the boys. When we get to the edge, the big guys will support us, but they want to get the switches and turn me on again and again. As a competitor, don’t take it, accept the challenge and do your best.”
Here’s more from Detroit:
- Dennis Jenkins was another bright spot in the defeat, adds Sankofa. The third-year player scored a career-high 31 points, including 8 of 15 from long range, and had five rebounds, four assists and a steal in 32 minutes. Jenkins will become a restricted free agent next summer after the Pistons. is carried out their $4 million option on his contract in June.
- U another story for The Detroit Free Press, Sankofa details how the veteran forward Taurian prince recovered from neck surgery last season with the Bucks to return to the NBA. Prince suffered a herniated disc in his neck during a game last November, and an MRI scan revealed the injury days later. He underwent surgery on November 13, 2025, and was back on the court four months later, even though doctors told him that more than just his career was in jeopardy — the injury left him with numbness on the left side of his body and was told he might not regain motor control. “They could not guarantee me that I could feel the back in my left arm, on the left side of my body“, said the prince.But they could guarantee that they could fix my neck injury. All I asked was if I could come back and play. I was told that the rehab should be perfect, so as soon as I finished the surgery, after I knew it was a success, I just started figuring out my rehab plan.”
- Sniper Isaiah Joe will miss his seventh straight game on Monday with a right hip contusion, tweets Hunter Patterson of The Athletic. The Pistons acquired the 27-year-old defenseman in a summer trade with the Thunder. Detroit controls the $11.3 million option on Joe’s deal for next season.
- Bickerstaff admitted the Pistons are cautious Jalen Durenright hamstring strain before Sunday’s game, according to Sankoff (Link to video on Twitter). The team announced before Bickerstaff’s media release that the star big man, who was injured on Oct. 23, is at least out two more weeks. “We will not rush it. We’re going to take our time and make sure we do everything right so that when he comes back, he comes back for goodBickerstaff said of Duren.
