Pistons 92, Bucks 115 – Dec. 5, Fiserv Forum
If the Pistons are looking for hope heading into Game 1 of their first round series with the Bucks, they certainly won’t find it in looking back to their first matchup of the season with Milwaukee.
Facing a Bucks team without Khris Middleton, and with Giannis Antetokounmpo severely limited by foul trouble for much of the night, the Pistons had a golden opportunity to steal a rare road win at Fiserv Forum.
Instead, Eric Bledsoe took over, the Bucks got contributions from deep into their bench, and Milwaukee emerged as runaway winners from the offset.
A 23-point defeat such as this one is generally embarrassing, but this represented a notable humiliation for the Pistons in a game where even Blake Griffin scoring 31 points didn’t leave a dent on their opponents.
Andre Drummond notably floundered for the Pistons with just 10 points and eight rebounds in 30 minutes, but the story of this game really belonged to Bledsoe.
The 29-year-old guard racked up 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting, torching the Pistons in the paint, and exposing one of the weaknesses that may also prove crucial in the playoffs.