Jaden Ivey made quite a lot of photographs Monday evening. None larger was the one he hit on the buzzer.
Ivey was a extremely environment friendly 10-of-13 from the ground within the Detroit Pistons’ 102-100 win over their trans-border rivals, the Toronto Raptors. He completed with 25 factors and eight assists within the recreation, lifting his teammates throughout an in any other case tough taking pictures evening within the absence of Cade Cunningham, who was out for his second straight recreation with a hip harm.
The non-Ivey Pistons shot solely 38 %, making Ivey’s offensive heroics essential, particularly after a wild ultimate 3:01, which featured eight completely different ties or lead adjustments. Ivey obtained to the road and break up two free throws with 2:31 to go however very a lot redeemed himself on the finish.
Underneath head coach Monty Williams final season, Ivey had a disappointing sophomore season, the place he misplaced his spot within the beginning lineup for a part of the season and noticed his shot alternatives drop. Now taking part in for J.B. Bickerstaff, Ivey’s scoring is as much as 18.4 factors per recreation, with a career-best 44.7 % taking pictures from the sector and 37.2 % from three-point vary.
He is helped Detroit go from one of many league’s worst-shooting groups to a totally common taking pictures crew, rating nineteenth in subject purpose share and sixteenth in threes. They’re now 8-11 on the season and as much as eighth place within the East. Final 12 months, the Pistons did not get their eighth win till Feb. 8. With out two last-second losses to the Charlotte Hornets, Detroit may have a profitable file.
The Raptors are struggling, however just like the Pistons, they have a crew loaded with thrilling younger expertise, even when they have not put it collectively but. With these groups only a few hours away on Freeway 401, this may very well be the beginning of an enduring rivalry between the 2 golf equipment.
