By Josh Cohen
The final three minutes of Tuesday’s summer league game between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers became a showdown between two of the more marquee players of the competition.
Detroit’s Stanley Johnson and Indiana’s Glenn Robinson III traded bucket after bucket down the stretch. But, it was Johnson’s textbook pass to Kaleb Tarczewski that led to a go-ahead layup with 23 seconds remaining as the Pistons won, 80-76.
Johnson struggled with his shot for most of the night before catching fire. He knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers prior to his game-winning assist. Johnson finished with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists.
“I’m just going to keep shooting,” said Johnson, who is using this summer league as a way to improve his most significant weaknesses. “I find calmness in that I know that in a couple months I will be a lot better at what I am doing. I believe in what I am doing. When you start believing in stuff you are doing, it’s a different level of trust and a different level of confidence.”
“He’s doing exactly what he should be doing in summer league,” Pistons Head Coach Stan Van Gundy said. “I like his approach in how he’s trying to play. I think when he looks at film, it will be another learning experience and a chance for him to move forward.”
Another one of Detroit’s young, promising players, Henry Ellenson, had a few intriguing moments in the win. In particular, he drilled a Dirk Nowitzki-like step-back jumper off one foot in the fourth quarter. That shot and that move is why many were so captivated by Ellenson’s potential prior to the draft.
“One of the things I’ve been really impressed with is that he plays the game with great offensive confidence,” Van Gundy said of Ellenson, who scored 14 points. “He thinks he can score on anybody.”
Like Johnson, the Pacers’ Robinson also had a terrific finish. He scored nine of Indiana’s final 15 points, including a go-ahead jumper with 41 seconds left.
While he drilled a pair of shots late, Joe Young had another tough outing. He posted just eight points and shot 4-of-13 from the field.
Indiana made just 1-of-17 from 3-point range. The Pacers did out-rebound the Pistons, 40-28, and they dished out seven more team assists.
The Pacers return to action on Wednesday when they take on the Thunder at 5 p.m., while the Pistons get some rest before matching up with the Heat on Thursday at 5 p.m.
