Oklahoma City Thunder's Josh Giddey (3) is fouled by Detroit Pistons' Zavier Simpson (9) during first half NBA preseason basketball action in Montreal on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christinne Muschi
MONTREAL – Centre James Wiseman scored 20 points as the Detroit Pistons came back from being down 12 in the fourth quarter to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-125 in NBA pre-season action Thursday night at Bell Centre.
Hometown favourite Luguentz Dort of the Thunder led all scorers with 24 points in the loss.
Dort went 8-for-12 from the field – 5-for-9 from three-point range – and also contributed four rebounds.
Oklahoma City superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, from Hamilton, had 12 points, two rebounds and three assists, shooting 3-for-4 from the field.
Despite the loss, the night was about Dort from the beginning. The 24-year-old from the Montreal-Nord borough received a standing ovation before tip-off.
He then scored the Thunder’s first five points – with a three and a dunk – in front of an erupting sellout crowd of 21,055 spectators, including Montreal Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis and star Cole Caufield.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 12, 2023.
