Pistons unable to overcome Embiid-Brown tandem in loss to 76ers

Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News on Nov 4, 2026

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DETROIT — Coach J.B. Bickerstaff knew facing the Philadelphia 76ers 11 days after their 106-93 victory would be completely different. In their rematch at Little Caesars Arena, Bickerstaff knew adding Joel Embiid would change the defensive scheme that led to the Detroit Pistons' win on Oct. 25.

Embiid missed the first meeting of the season between the two franchises due to right foot plantar fasciitis management. Bickerstaff's concerns were proven correct, as Embiid recorded a double-double with 26 points and 14 rebounds, but Jaylen Brown was the key factor in the Pistons' 112-106 loss to the 76ers (8-1) on Wednesday night, Nov. 4.

Brown scored 30 points on 11-for-19 shooting and added six rebounds. He scored 23 points in the first half, surpassing the 16 points he scored in the 76ers' first meeting against Detroit. His first-half dominance helped put the Pistons down 17.

The Pistons (6-2) tried to claw back late in the fourth quarter, but Brown's rejected 3-point field-goal attempt by Cade Cunningham with 37 seconds left halted Detroit's momentum. At the time of Brown's block, the Pistons were on a 7-0 run, with Cunningham accounting for four points.

After their dominant performance Monday night against the Charlotte Hornets, when they connected on 18 3-pointers, the Pistons couldn't get anything going on offense against the 76ers. Detroit shot 12 for 33 from behind the arc, but Duncan Robinson appeared to be the only reliable option.

Robinson scored a team-best 27 points on 7-for-11 shooting from 3. Cunningham added 26 points on 9-for-22 shooting, along with 11 assists and seven rebounds, but the 76ers' defense, particularly Dean Wade, slowed him down. He was vital in limiting Cunningham to 4-for-11 shooting, allowing him to score only nine points in the first half. Detroit trailed Philadelphia 56-42 at the half.

Taking care of the ball remained a problem for the All-NBA guard, as he accounted for five of Detroit's 12 turnovers. Ausar Thompson recorded his second double-double of the season with 17 rebounds and 11 points.

Bickerstaff and assistant coach Luke Walton couldn’t help but share their thoughts as they prepared for the Sixers. While scouting, Bickerstaff and Walton paused to take in what they were seeing from LeBron James, who is in his 24th season.

While averaging a career-low 16.2 points through his first six games with the 76ers, James appears far from the player who once led his Cleveland Cavaliers to a Game 5 victory over the Goin’ to Work Pistons 20 years ago. Still, every moment they spent watching James at 41 left them in awe, especially given that Walton helped Bickerstaff put together a scheme against his 2003 draft mate.

Walton still remembers watching the Cavaliers take James with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NBA draft. A 180 from having to wait until the second round, the No. 32nd pick, when the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Walton.

“Any time you see a guy who is 40-plus doing the things he is doing, it is amazing,” Bickerstaff said. “He is a role model for what a professional athlete should be. One of the things I appreciate most is how he has carried the game forward and how he respects it. He does the right thing for the game and uses his platform to do even more. I have a ton of respect for him.”

Against the Pistons, James fell short of his 126th triple-double, finishing with 13 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.

Observations and notes

— Paul Reed struggles: Paul Reed has been a great contingency plan during Jalen Duren's ongoing absence. Reed has started each of the previous five games Duren missed, averaging 13.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.6 steals, and 1.4 blocks. However, Reed did not perform well against his former team. He struggled on both ends, and at times his shot selection seemed to frustrate the coaching staff. He finished with eight points on 4-for-14 shooting and seven rebounds.

— A solid night for Smith: Due to Reed's ill-advised shot selection and John Collins in foul trouble — three in the first half — Bickerstaff was forced to go to Tolu Smith early. He provided solid production on the defensive end, finishing with two blocks. Smith's best rejection came at 6:09 in the first quarter, when he blocked James' layup attempt after the future Hall of Famer blew past Auasar Thompson one-on-one.