The Detroit Pistons lost a hard fought game to the Golden State Warriors 120-109. Steph Curry dazzled the Little Caesars Arena crowd all night with thirty-four points, knocking down seven threes.

Jaden Ivey missed his second straight game due to illness. And Jalen Duren was a late game scratch due to ankle soreness for the second time this season.

Killian Hayes stepped up in a big way scoring a season high nineteen points and dished out eight assists. “This is the way Troy (Weaver) envisioned him playing being aggressive and knocking down shots,” Monty Williams said. Hayes shot well going 3 of 4 from behind the arc and continued a trend of good play the last few games.

Hayes also received praise from his teammates for his uptick in play recently.

“Killian does a lot, I feel like he takes pressure off of Cade bringing the ball up the court,” rookie Ausar Thompson said. “And takes pressure off of me on the defensive end of the court. Killian is a DAWG.”

Pistons two-way player Stanley Umude contributed fifteen points, knocking down 4 of 5 threes and impressing his coach.

“Kudos to him, tonight he was more sound and knocked down big shots.”

Challenged to Play Tougher

“We’ve talked about the spirit you need when missing multiple players,” coach Monty Williams said. “The spirit and discipline needed.”

They also needed to get tougher according to Williams after the Pistons lost to the Pelicans the night before.

And the Pistons responded with a different fire, and Williams saw steps in the right direction against the Warriors.

“I thought it was phenomenal, guarding the ball, setting screens, and hanging in there when it was rough,” Williams noted in the post game press conference. “As far as toughness goes it was totally different than last night, it was a step in the right direction.”

As any good coach would do in a loss, he wasn’t completely happy and still wants more from his young team.

“The discipline to box out and fouling hurt us tonight.”

Cade Cunningham Turnovers Must Be Solved

Monty Williams addressed the turnover issues with star Cade Cunningham who finished with twenty-one points, five assists, and four rebounds. But he also had five turnovers with his season average at 5.6 per game.

“He (Cade) and I have talked about the turnovers — I told them we’re playing in the crowd too much.”

Williams believes getting the team healthy will help, but has sought other solutions until then.

”They have a guy draped on him full court so we have to have other facilitators help him bring the ball up the court, but it’s something we’re still working on for sure.”

QUOTE OF THE NIGHT

“I see things that I’m not happy with and there’s a way to get the point across. Ive talked to the league on the reports. But I do believe we play a physical brand of basketball and how we attack the paint, I feel we could get to the line a few more times a game.”

— Monty Williams on the fouls disparity