The Detroit Pistons closed out their regular season on a high note, despite a nail-biting 140-133 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. The game was a rollercoaster, showcasing some impressive performances from both teams.
Pat Connaughton stole the spotlight for the Bucks, dropping a career-high 43 points and snagging a season-best 11 rebounds. This victory marked Milwaukee's eighth consecutive win, solidifying their momentum heading into the playoffs.
Notably, both teams opted to rest their star players, with Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo and Detroit's Cade Cunningham among those sidelined. With playoff positions already secured, the fifth-seeded Bucks are set to face Indiana, while the sixth-seeded Pistons will take on New York in the first round.
Milwaukee's only regular starter on the court was Kyle Kuzma, who made a splash with 22 points in the first quarter before taking a seat for the remainder of the game. Tyler Smith contributed 20 points, and Pete Nance added 19 to the Bucks' tally.
On the Pistons' side, Malik Beasley led the charge with 23 points, helping six teammates reach double figures. Lindy Waters III and Marcus Sasser each chipped in 18 points, with Sasser also dishing out 10 assists.
Beasley was particularly impressive from beyond the arc, hitting 7 of 11 three-pointers, finishing the season with a career-high 319 threes. He entered the game just one three-pointer shy of NBA leader Anthony Edwards, whose Minnesota Timberwolves were in action later that day.
For the Bucks, the primary goal was to maintain player health ahead of the playoffs, which they achieved by resting most of their key players.
In a thrilling turn of events, the Pistons managed to erase an eight-point deficit in the final 15 seconds of regulation, forcing overtime. Waters tied the game with a clutch three-pointer with just 1.9 seconds left on the clock.
Several players enjoyed career-high scoring games, including Milwaukee's Jamaree Bouyea (15), Connaughton, Nance, and Smith, along with Detroit's Bobi Klintman (15) and Tolu Smith (14). Notably, Klintman scored his first-ever points in the NBA, while Tolu Smith made a strong debut with eight rebounds.
As both teams gear up for their respective playoff series, they will kick off the action either Saturday or Sunday, setting the stage for an exciting postseason.
