DETROIT — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander eased into a 3-pointer for the game’s first bucket. Chris Paul swiped a steal for a runout layup on the next possession. Soon enough, Dennis Schroder joined in on the fun.
The Thunder’s trio of point guards treated Detroit’s opulent arena as if it was a blacktop where only highlight reel plays were allowed. But then came an admirable fourth-quarter run from the depleted Pistons that put the Thunder in familiar clutch-time territory.
Instead of cruising in the Motor City, the Thunder fended off the Pistons 114-107 Wednesday night.
The win brought well-timed relief for the Thunder.