Malik Beasley’s career high lifts Pistons past 76ers to get back to .500

DETROIT Malik Beasley was midway through his postgame interview in front of his stall when someone appeared in the Detroit Pistons locker room.

It was the newly acquired Dennis Schroder.

The Pistons, who acquired Schroder from the Utah Jazz in a five-team deal, had just defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 125-112.

Schroder strolled in, looked around and went directly to his empty stall, strategically placed between Jaden Ivey and Ron Holland II.

Schroder, who has been traded three times since February 2024, will eventually place things in his locker.

For Detroit, the most important thing he can bring to the locker room is his professional mindset from his decade-plus in the NBA We had a special guest join during Malik Beasleys postgame presser from the locker room: pic.twitter.com/kvfRQFenN9 Hunter Patterson (@HuntPatterson_) February 8, 2025 He was a guy we targeted and wanted to be here as part of this group, Pistons coach J.B.

Bickerstaff said during his pregame news conference.

Because of his skill set, the background information wed done on him, his competitive nature, his ability to play two ends of the floor.

But, hes got a killer instinct in him also.

Hes not afraid of the moment, hes not afraid to take big shots.

When we come down the stretch here and these games are so important and so meaningful, youre going to need multiple guys willing to do that.

Advertisement Considering All-Star Cade Cunningham was sidelined with a sprained right ankle, Detroits win on Friday was one of the seasons most complete as multiple guys contributed.

Beasley scored a career-high 36 points on 9-of-19 shooting from 3-point range.

Tobias Harris 22 points made for his fourth game with at least 20 points in 2025.

Ausar Thompsons six assists matched his career high and he had one of his most complete games of the season, adding 14 points, eight rebounds and a steal.

And although he fouled out in a little less than 20 minutes, Jalen Duren notched his 23rd double-double of the season, was three assists away from his first career triple-double and was a game-high plus-26.

After a heartbreaking loss against an elite Cavaliers team two nights before, a dominant win against a sub-.500 squad was an encouraging sign the Pistons are taking a step in the right direction; a direction that could lead to postseason play.

One that could also provide winning minutes with Cunningham off the floor, particularly with Schroder running the second unit.

Detroit scored 78 first-half points per ESPN, it was a Pistons first-half high since 1982.

Just having a collective effort, that was the message talking to the guys coming into this, Bickerstaff said postgame.

Playing a way, stylistically, that suited the group that we had out there on the floor tonight.

I thought they did a really good job of that in the first half.

We talked about how it was going to be the collective that was going to get it done and we had 21 assists on our first 26 field goals for the night.

It doesnt get any better than that.

Thompson had five of those first 21 assists.

Before Beasley exploded for a career night, Thompsons playmaking was the headline of the evening for Detroit.

His six assists produced 16 points, and he got those assists in several ways.

Advertisement The 21-year-old wing sprayed the ball from the paint to the perimeter for 3s.

Thompson brought the ball across half court and waited for off-ball actions to develop and found open teammates for triples.

He also showed decisive decision-making in transition, throwing a successful lob to Duren and kicking the ball to Tim Hardaway Jr.

for more points from beyond the 3-point line.

And potentially most impressive, Thompson made a successful read out of a pick-and-roll scenario to Isaiah Stewart for an easy dunk.

Wins such as these can give the Pistons confidence they can compete on any given night.

Its a good test for us to see where were at, Stewart said.

Also to see what weve got.

I like that.

We went out there tonight with the group we had, the guys we had and we got the job done.

And thats a great feeling.

Stewart had 10 points with eight rebounds, two assists and a block.

The Pistons (26-26) are now back to .500, have a 3-2 record on this six-game homestand and will welcome the Charlotte Hornets to Little Caesars Arena on Sunday to wrap up the homestand.

After Sundays game, the Pistons head to Chicago for back-to-back contests against the Bulls before the All-Star break.

Detroit now has its most competitive roster since losing Ivey to injury and most importantly, the players in the locker room believe in one another.

Both Waters and Schroder could have an opportunity to make their Pistons debut Sunday.

Weve got a whole group, Beasley said.

Thats the best thing about our team.

Were all ready to fight, no matter whos out.

(Photo: Rick Osentoski / Imagn Images).

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