Josh Giddey’s OKC Thunder, the West’s No. 1 seed, have gone down in the upset of the season in a 120-104 blowout loss to the NBA’s bottom-seeded Detroit Pistons.
It came even more remarkably despite Pistons star Cade Cunningham (knee) being a late scratch for Monday’s contest (all times AEDT) in Detroit, with Jalen Duren (21 points, 21 rebounds, six assists) and Jaden Ivey (19 points, eight rebounds, six assists) shining in more prolific roles.
The Pistons led 100-86 going into the final term as an upset was brewing in front of a Little Caesars Arena building with excitement.
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When it felt like momentum was swinging back towards the Thunder early in the fourth quarter, Ivey hit a huge three from the wing to put the Pistons back up by 17 with 8:14 left in the game.
Giddey was the only Thunder starter to play virtually the entire fourth quarter in what appeared to be a showing from Mark Daigneault to give others greater opportunities to try and will the visitors back in the game. Even Shai Gilgous-Alexander, who had 31 points in 29 minutes, watched on from the bench for the entire final term.
Giddey’s Thunder blow through Pelicans | 00:58
Giddey made a pair or free throws with six minutes left to get the Thunder back within 14 and continued to lead his side at the offensive end down the stretch. But the Thunder couldn’t get any closer than the 14-point margin in a one-sided affair.
In reality, this one never even felt close again, with Marcus Sasser’s consecutive buckets – a floater then pull-up three – all but closing the door on the result by giving Detroit a 117-98 lead with 3:51 left as Detroit coasted to a big victory.
Giddey just fell short of a double-double with 12 points, nine rebounds and five assists and Jalen Williams scored 20.
It marked just the Pistons’ sixth win for the season– now sitting 6-40 overall – as well as their second win from their last three games.
OKC, who also have the NBA’s best road record at 15-9, dropped to overall 32-14 to now hold the same record as the West’s No. 2 seed Minnesota.
It means the Thunder and Timberwolves will play for the No. 1 seed in the West on Tuesday, while Minnesota is coming off a a loss to the West’s bottom-seeded San Antonio.