Mavs-Pistons preview: Looking to turn things around in Hardaway’s return

The last time the Mavericks and Detroit Pistons matched up, it was Jan. 31 and the only memorable thing was in the postgame locker room when Markieff Morris sat alone in the corner stall.

Nobody knew it at the time, but there was a reason why some players and coaches, in particular assistant Darrell Armstrong, came by to chat with Morris.

The next day, news broke that Morris was part of the monster trade that also sent Luka Doncic and Maxi Kleber to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Since then, the Mavericks have gone 7-15 and the Pistons have gone 16-7.

For the Mavericks, injuries have derailed their season.

For the Pistons, they remain a shining example of how to rebuild the old-fashioned way. Also known as the hard way.

The last time they made the playoffs was 2018-19 when Blake Griffin was still in his prime and Andre Drummond led the NBA at nearly 16 rebounds per game.

After that, their best players got old, their young players failed to develop and their draft picks needed time to develop. But Cade Cunningham. Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey did, indeed, begin to develop.

And now, the Pistons are a solid playoff team for the first time since Dwane Casey was in his first season as Detroit coach.

Cunningham has turned into a legitimate All-Star, averaging 25.6 points, 9.3 assists and 6.1 rebounds per game. And, when the Mavericks visited Detroit six weeks ago, the 6-6 point guard poured in 40 points in the Pistons’ 117-102 win.

After that game, Kyrie Irving and P.J. Washington, both of whom were playing before injuries set in, explained why Cunningham has blossomed in his fourth season.

“He plays at his own pace,” Irving said. “You can tell he has a confidence about him. You can tell he’s worked on his craft. I’m really happy for him.”

Said Washington, who grew up at roughly the same time as Cunningham in the Metroplex: “He’s a wonderful talent. I seen him growing up and I’m excited and proud of him to be where he is now. Just a great young player. Growing up I used to see him a lot and his size, his ability to pass the ball, shoot – he has the total package.”

It will be up to the Mavericks to slow down that total package Friday night.

Here’s what else to watch for when the Pistons visit:

• It will be Tim Hardaway Jr.’s first visit to AAC since getting traded last summer to the Pistons. He’s been a stronghold for them, starting all 66 games in which he’s played and averaging 10.4 points while shooting 36 percent from three-point land.
• The Mavericks have to figure out a way to stop the bleeding. They have lost nine of their last 10 and haven’t won at AAC since Feb. 27 against Charlotte. They by all rights should have won Wednesday at Indiana, but somehow lost a seven-point lead in the final minute and lost 135-131. In that stretch, they were 3-of-6 from the free-throw line and had three turnovers, two by Jaden Hardy, who also had 24 points in his first game back from a sprained ankle.
• The injury situation remains problematic, to put it lightly. The Mavericks’ latest injury update has Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Dereck Lively II, Daniel Gafford, Dante Exum, Caleb Martin and O-Max Prosper out. Brandon Williams probable.
• This will be the Mavericks lone home game in a lengthy stretch as they hit the road starting Monday for four games against Eastern Conference competition: Brooklyn, New York, Orlando, Chicago. They are 10-13 so far this season against East teams.
• The Pistons are in a dogfight with Indiana and Milwaukee for the fourth, fifth and sixth seeds in the East. Currently, the Pistons are in sixth, but they were only one game behind No. 4 Indiana going into Thursday’s action.
• Detroit is without Jaden Ivey (leg) probably for the rest of the season. Their strengths are rebounding (plus 3.5 boards per game) and defense. They are ninth overall in the NBA in total defensive rating.

DETROIT PISTONS (39-31) at DALLAS MAVERICKS (33-37)

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Friday.

WHERE: American Airlines Center, Dallas.

TV: WFAA, KFAA 29, MAVSTV STREAM.

RADIO: KEGL 97.1 FM, 99.1 FM Zona MX (Spanish)

X: @ESefko