Pistons continue to prove Kevin Durant wrong, look like dangerous playoff team

Alec Brzezinski

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Pistons continue to prove Kevin Durant wrong, look like dangerous playoff team image

When Kevin Durant disrespected the Pistons earlier this week by claiming no one cares about playing them, he may have awakened a sleeping giant.

And no, we're not just talking about Andre Drummond. Detroit went into Chicago on Saturday and dealt the Bulls a 94-90 defeat on the strength of a balanced scoring attack. Reggie Jackson led the way with 22 points but all five Pistons starters finished in double figures.

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But back to the Durant-Pistons issue. Durant decided to rest when Oklahoma City traveled to Detroit on Tuesday. Instead of just chalking it up as a healing day, Durant tried to excuse his absence by asking "Who cares about Detroit?" Pistons guard Stanley Johnson certainly does.

"No one is scared of playing against (Durant) on this side of town," Johnson said, via the Detroit Free Press. "Next year we have two games scheduled (against the Thunder), and I know, for me, it's circled on my schedule from now on."

Back to Saturday night's game in Chicago, where Detroit won for the seventh time in nine games. The Pistons sit seventh in the Eastern Conference and could be a tough out with five players capable of scoring.

The addition of small forward Tobias Harris, who scored 21 points Saturday, before the trade deadline has rejuvenated this starting unit, and shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is one of the rare two-way players in the league.

Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy has quietly built a solid team for the past couple of years, and it may not be long before he sees big results.

Highlights:

Jackson hits before the buzzer:

Tim Duncan will get you:

Bulls shooting guard Jimmy Butler recorded his first career triple-double by scoring 28 points with 17 rebounds and 12 assists. 

Stud of the night:

Spurs stars Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge carried San Antonio to a 102-95 win over the beat-up Raptors on Saturday. Leonard scored a game-high 33 points on 10-of-17 shooting with seven assists and six rebounds. Aldridge scored 31 points and hauled in 15 rebounds.

All-Stars DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry did not play for Toronto.

Dud of the night:

The Heat: Sure, Chris Bosh is still out, Dwyane Wade was out with a bad back and, for whatever reason, Hassan Whiteside still comes off the bench. But the Heat entered Saturday night's tilt against the Trail Blazers third in the Eastern Conference after winning five of their past seven games. However, Portland beat the Heat decisively 110-93 as five Trail Blazers scored in double figures.

What's Next:

Hornets (44-31) at Cavaliers (54-22) 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC — Charlotte has been one of the best teams since the All-Star break as the Hornets continue to rise up the Eastern Conference standings. Cleveland still has some work to do if it’s going to fend off the Raptors.

Trail Blazers (41-36) at Warriors (68-8) 8 p.m. ET — Golden State is clearly wearing down as it tries to break the regular-season wins record. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson look a bit frayed and Draymond Green can't seem to keep his name out of the spotlight. They have still been winning and have the NBA's best record, but this could be a good game to sit one of the starters.

Alec Brzezinski