Pistons Blow 23-Point Lead, Lose Third Straight

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff criticizes team for 'disrespecting the game' in second-half collapse against Nets

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Detroit Pistons blew a 23-point lead in the third quarter and lost 107-105 to the Brooklyn Nets, who were on a 10-game losing streak. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff said the team 'stopped respecting the game' in the second half, leading to the collapse. The loss was the Pistons' third straight and further highlighted their reliance on injured star Cade Cunningham to generate offense.

Why it matters

The Pistons can ill afford to lose to a struggling Nets team if they want to be a serious playoff contender, especially with 13 of their final 20 games against teams above .500. The loss exposed the team's defensive issues and lack of scoring options without Cunningham.

The details

The Pistons led by 23 points with 9:04 left in the third quarter but were outscored 61-43 in the second half. The Nets got 32 bench points, 28 points in the paint, 17 second-chance points and 14 points off turnovers after halftime. Bickerstaff said the team 'stopped respecting the game' and didn't play to its defensive identity. Tobias Harris had a team-high 18 points, while Jalen Duren struggled against Brooklyn's length.

  • The Pistons led by 23 points with 9:04 left in the third quarter.

The players

J.B. Bickerstaff

Head coach of the Detroit Pistons.

Cade Cunningham

Star player for the Detroit Pistons who was sidelined with a left quad contusion.

Ausar Thompson

Detroit Pistons player who missed the game with a right ankle sprain.

Tobias Harris

Detroit Pistons player who scored a team-high 18 points.

Jalen Duren

Detroit Pistons player who had 17 points and a game-high 14 rebounds but struggled against Brooklyn's length.

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What they’re saying

“We have to play to our identity every single night. To give up 27 and 34 points in the third and fourth quarters, that's not playing to our identity. We have to realize the reason we're sitting in the position that we're sitting in is because of the style we're willing to play. That's not something you turn on and turn off.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Detroit Pistons (The New York Times)

“Everyone in this locker room felt this was a must-win game. All of us, as men, have to look ourselves in the mirror. … We know we didn't play up to our standards for 48 (minutes) tonight.”

— Isaiah Stewart, Detroit Pistons Player (The New York Times)

What’s next

The Pistons will have a chance to redeem themselves on Sunday when they face the Miami Heat, the first of five back-to-back games in an 18-game month. They'll need to learn from this loss quickly and make adjustments to avoid further collapses.

The takeaway

This loss further exposed the Pistons' reliance on Cade Cunningham to generate offense and highlighted the team's defensive struggles since the All-Star break. If Detroit wants to maintain its position atop the Eastern Conference, it must rediscover its identity and play with consistent effort for 48 minutes, regardless of the score.