Keith Langlois

That the NBA entrusted the Pistons with the season's first national showcase is a sign of how far they've come. That the Pistons are more focused on playing the season's final showcase tells you where they want to go. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

FINAL: Pistons 121, Celtics 113. Pistons 23-0 4Q run overcomes 22-point deficit. Pistons 15/40 from 3 with Robinson (5/9) and Green (5/8) providing most punch. Duren 22 & 9; Cade 22 & 8 assists; Robinson 20; Green 19 after not playing in first half. Quite the opener.

Pistons extend run to 23-0 and lead to 13 before Derrick White's runner snaps a streak of 9 straight empty Celtics possessions. Pistons timeout at 3:06, up 112-101.

Pistons have scored on 6 of last 7 possessions - and scored 3 points on all of them. Three triples from Duncan Robinson, 1 from Javonte Green, an and-one for Duren and three FTs for Robinson. Celtics haven't scored on 6 straight trips.

Pistons on 18-0 run to go from 10 down to 8 up, 107-99, with 5:10 to play.

Back-to-back Duncan Robinson 3s, after he went to the line for 3 FTs before that, and the Pistons have again pulled within 4 at 99-95 with 7:34 left. Not bad for Game 1 of 82.

END 3Q: Celtics 88, Pistons 82 Pistons fell 22 down, outscored Boston 32-16 over final 8 minutes. Javonte Green 11 points, plus 15 in 7 minutes.

In the last 3-plus minutes, the Pistons have cut a 22-point deficit to 9. Celtics timeout at 4:40 3Q after a Javonte Green 3.

HALF: Celtics 58, Pistons 45 Boston closes on a 23-10 run over final 8 minutes. A Kevin Huerter 3 at the buzzer wiped out, came a fraction of a second late. Credit Boston's defense for making the Pistons take tough shots. Paul George 17 points.

If there were any lingering concerns about Jalen Duren and bruised feelings, he obliterated them in a 24-point first half tour de force on a very good night for the Pistons. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

FINAL: Pistons 128, Timberwolves 106 Jalen Duren 24 in 15 first-half minutes. Other than fouling too much early, the Pistons dominated a Western Conference contender. Pistons depth runs past their anticipated 11-man rotation.

END 3Q: Pistons 97, Timberwolves 82 Jalen Duren took a seat after his 24-point first half, but this is as close as it gets to a meaningful preseason game with both teams using a regular-season rotation blueprint. A very good night for the Pistons. Expect some bench play 4Q.

HALF: Pistons 65, Timberwolves 38 Jalen Duren renders all concern for rust or discontent or stunted growth moot with 24 points (8 of 9 FGs, 8 of 8 FTs) in 15 minutes. Minnesota's 21 of 21 at the FT line keeping it close.

END 1Q: Timberwolves 38, Pistons 29 Minnesota a 15-7 edge in FTs (15 of 15), a 10-2 edge in points off turnovers, a 6-3 edge in second-chance points Duren 10 points, 2 steals in two four-minute stints.

Preseason Game 3: Pistons fold Jalen Duren into starting lineup alongside Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, John Collins and Duncan Robinson

Ausar Thompson's expanded role, the fit with John Collins, the young Okorie-Lanier backcourt and a whole lot more in the latest edition of Pistons Mailbag. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

One game into the preseason and there's a lot to chew on already for the Pistons. Time to crank up the Mailbag machine. Questions on rotation, new guys, risers, changes? Let's have 'em!

John Collins welcomed himself to the Pistons brotherhood early and Ebuka Okorie welcomed himself to the NBA late. In between, a whole lot of Ausar Thompson. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

FINAL: Pistons 109, Suns 107 Ebuka Okorie with a very nice drive and lefty finish for the game-winner. Pistons were down 18 at the half.

And promptly drains a deep wing 3

Ebuka Okorie on at 10:05 for his debut

END 3Q: Pistons 84, Suns 84 A Daniss Jenkins triple ties it. It's a game in the hands of the benches, it appears.

Duncan Robinson and Cade Cunningham not part of opening lineup for third quarter. Kevin Huerter and Isaiah Joe in their spots.

HALF: Suns 68, Pistons 50 Pistons bench shoots 5 of 20. Pistons 17 fouls, Suns 21 FTAs. Suns a 12-5 advantage in second-chance points.

Fouls are 13-6 and J.B. Bickerstaff gets his first T of the season

END 1Q: Suns 35, Pistons 21 First quarter of preseason is in the books. It's not a great book so far.

Very interesting first sub by J.B. Bickerstaff: Huerter and Joe on, Reed and Robinson off, Collins moving to center. John Collins at the 5 might be a rotation staple.

John Collins just welcomed himself into the brotherhood. After absorbing a few cheap shots from Dillon Brooks, he'd had enough. At 7:23 of the first preseason game, Collins and Brooks get double Ts after shoving and jostling. Review ongoing.

John Collins just welcomed himself into the brotherhood. After absorbing a few cheap shots from Dillon Brooks, he'd had enough. At 7:23 of the first preseason game, Collins and Brooks get double Ts after shoving and jostling. Review ongoing.

No surprises in Pistons starting lineup vs. Phoenix for preseason opener. Jalen Duren will not play, so Paul Reed starts alongside Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson.

In a very real sense, Phase I is over for the Pistons under the Langdon-Bickerstaff regime with the Jalen Duren signing giving them a long runway to a bright future. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

The Pistons and Kevin Huerter wasted no time before committing to each other. They’re confident they’re getting the best version of him. “He’s just a really good basketball player.” www.nba.com/pistons/news...

The Pistons have multiplied their 3-point threat and tweaked their offense. “We’ve got a ton of guys that can shoot.” www.nba.com/pistons/news...

J.B. Bickerstaff is adamant the Pistons will remain, well, the Pistons. It starts with his belief in Cade Cunningham’s leadership. “That’s who Deuce is.” www.nba.com/pistons/news...

While the Pistons await an outcome on the biggest question hovering over them, training camp and the preseason will address their other variables. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

The Jalen Duren contract impasse dominated the day. The Pistons remain steadfast it will not dominate the season. "We will be excited to have him regardless of what decision he does make." www.nba.com/pistons/news...

Pistons go into camp with a 19-man roster

The Pistons went from 14 wins to 44 to 60. In year three under the Langdon-Bickerstaff regime, they'll use another barometer to measure growth. And that's what drove their off-season tweaks. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

The top of the Pistons roster has emerged. The middle of it has turned over. What might J.B. Bickerstaff's rotation look like? www.nba.com/pistons/news...

The Pistons, coming off a 60-win season, will get plenty of national TV exposure in the 2026-27 season - and they'll get the chance to bank a win before 28 other teams in their nationally televised opener. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

The Pistons will tip off the season with a nationally televised game, hosting Boston on Oct. 20 at 3 pm

The Eastern Conference has leveled up and the Pistons are at a different spot now. The barometer for success is about to change. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

Ebuka Okorie will force his way into the Pistons rotation sooner than later. Can Chaz Lanier and Isaac Jones also make a push? www.nba.com/pistons/news...

Ebuka Okorie gave Trajan Langdon and the Pistons front office a restful night after his NBA debut www.nba.com/pistons/news...

The Pistons Summer League roster sets up to give Ebuka Okorie plenty of reps to run an offense that will also include Chaz Lanier, Isaac Jones and Ugonna Onyenso. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

Eyebrows were raised when the Pistons acted swiftly to sign Tobias Harris as a free agent when Trajan Langdon and J.B. Bickerstaff first arrived. He validated every dollar the Pistons offered - and then some. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

Personnel evaluation is more art than science. Hitting is often about the environment a player comes to and the makeup he brings with him. Ebuka Okorie and the Pistons seem made to flourish. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

When the run on the second wave of playmakers started, Trajan Langdon acted swiftly to get the guy the Pistons really wanted, dynamic freshman guard Ebuka Okorie. www.nba.com/pistons/news...

While you twiddle your thumbs before the Pistons pick at 21, here's some words about why Ausar Thompson is front and center alongside Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren in the Pistons future: www.nba.com/pistons/news...

The possibilities are many for the Pistons at 21, but their desire to add 3-point shooting & playmaking could marry well with the prospects available at that spot. www.nba.com/pistons/news...