Three Takeaways From Detroit's Win Over Washington

The Pistons are now 2-0 in the Summer League after beating the Wizards.

The Motor City squad did not pump the brakes in their second exhibition game against the Washington Wizards. After dominating the majority of the game, the Pistons escaped a feisty comeback effort with a 105-99 win.

This was truly a balanced effort by the Pistons, boasting seven players in double figures and proving that this roster stands deeper than the two lottery picks obtained in this past draft. By improving to 2-0, the club bettered its chances to make the championship game and sits first in the standings - tied only with the Orlando Magic. As the Pistons gear up to face Bennedict Mathurin and the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday, here are 3 takeaways from last night’s game.

Jaden Ivey’s Dominance And Injury Scare

Ivey was a problem in the five minutes he played before a scary right ankle injury had him grimacing in pain. Shooting 100% from the field, he knocked down a deep step-back three and had multiple crafty finishes at the rim following his explosive first step and jerky hesitations. To add to this stat line, he rocketed a beautiful downfield pass to Braxton Key and set him up for an easy flush on the other end. Once again, Ivey had no problem establishing his presence on the floor as a speed demon and a natural pace pusher. He simply did not miss and was virtually unstoppable up until the five minute mark.

After landing on Isaiah Todd's foot after an aggressive close out, which was ruled a flagrant foul, Ivey was able to get back on his feet and hobble off the court. A great sign of strength and toughness, Ivey returned briefly to shoot three free throws and knocked them all down effortlessly before heading to the locker room with medical trainers. The injury didn't seem that bad and Ivey himself took to Twitter today to say that he's fine. Even if he is regular-season okay, we may have seen the last of Ivey until the fall.

Isaiah Stewart Shines At The 4

Fans are getting to witness a new lineup that stars this Washington product at the 4 and Jalen Duren at the 5. Standing at 6-8, Stewart is an undersized center that made up for his height disadvantage with extraordinary hustle and aggressiveness. However, with the recent development of a deep midrange and three-point shot, Stewart is gradually transforming into a stretch 4 that can space the floor and disrupt defensive game plans with his interior and exterior play. In addition to being an additional perimeter weapon for Cade Cunningham to play make for, he is also maturing and making better decisions with the ball. Despite his five turnovers, Stewart correctly filled lanes and made smart choices with the ball, making Duren’s job in the paint exponentially easier.

The Pistons staff continues to encourage Stewart’s deep ball attempts and they served to be vital in the season opener to silence the Trailblazers’ comeback. However, he shouldn’t hunt the three-ball as much as he did in game two and should allow the shots to come naturally. His stroke has undoubtedly become smoother over the offseason and he will continue to improve and possibly establish himself as a starting-caliber 4, rather than the prototype backup center that he was originally projected to be.

Isaiah Livers and Braxton Key Pushing To Make The Pistons Rotation

After Ivey’s tumble, Livers and Key took the opportunity to showcase their skills on the court to not only maintain the lead that the Pistons held, but also close out the game in crunch time. Both players had exceptional games and are exceeding the expectations placed upon them.

Livers had a huge comeback game and shot the lights out from three and went to work in the post with multiple contested fade aways. He finished with 20 points and was a catalyst for the offense throughout the first three quarters. His defensive presence has not gone unnoticed either and, though it is not apparent in the box score, he is clearly able to hold his ground against multiple positions and push the ball down the court. Apart from his high shooting percentages, his aggressive takes consistently got him to the line and opened up more opportunities for quick dump-offs to Duren in the middle of the paint. If Livers can build off of this successful night and continue to make the most of his minutes, he will solidify his role coming off the bench and possibly see more minutes as a backup in the midst of the “Isaiah Stewart at the 4” experiment.

Key also showed flashes of promise during his 27 minutes on the floor. He displayed a high motor and ran the floor during every fast break, in which he was able to create for others or score himself in transition. Key is extremely unselfish and always seems to make the right pass at the right time. His shooting numbers speak for themselves (14 points, 6-for-8 shooting), however, to come off a two-way contract and compete at such a high level is very impressive. Key is evidently making a case for himself to earn a spot on the Pistons roster, and with the numbers and effort he has displayed so far, he will likely be a favorable addition to the already bolstered bench.