Pistons big Kelly Olynyk calls game at the buzzer for insane OT victory over Hornets.
A reminder on The Horry Scale: It breaks down a game-winning buzzer-beater (GWBB) in the categories of difficulty, game situation (was the team tied or behind at the time?), importance (playoff game or garden-variety night in November?) and celebration. Then we give it an overall grade on a scale of 1-5 Robert Horrys, named for the patron saint of last-second answered prayers.
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The Detroit Pistons, after scooping Cade Cunningham with the 2021 No. 1 overall pick, have been mired at the bottom of the standings yet again. But they snuck in a victory over the Celtics prior to the All-Star break, and split the first two coming out of it. Then, with a matchup against the suddenly struggling Hornets, a back-and-forth battle developed, with 20 lead changes and 16 ties ultimately ending on Kelly Olynyk’s buzzer-beating catch-and-shoot turnaround jumper.
Suddenly, it’s 3-of-4 wins for the Pistons, and there’s light streaming into the Eastern Conference basement.
BUZZ-ER BEATER
Us leaving @spectrumcenter tonight because the#PISTONSWIN#PISTONSWIN#PISTONSWIN pic.twitter.com/4lS2U3s6Mh
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 28, 2022
GAME SITUATION: Cade Cunningham, who’s spent the season gradually looking more and more like the player whose potential earned that No. 1 overall selection, played a dominant fourth quarter, putting up 12 points (4-6 FGs) and three assists as the Pistons surged in front during the final minute of regulation.
But he missed the second of two free throws with 9.7 seconds remaining, providing an opening the Hornets were only too happy to take advantage of, tying the game on a putback with 4.1 to play (and nearly winning it at that buzzer when LaMelo Ball stole the inbounds pass and flung up a fallaway that kissed back rim.)
The Hornets opened overtime on a 7-2 run, which the Pistons nearly matched, pulling within a point 89 seconds from the finish. Neither team could put down another point as time ticked away, and an offense-for-defense substitution put Kelly Olynyk on the floor with 6.8 seconds to play. Cody Martin’s take foul set up a sideline inbounds with 2.1 left for one final possession, and Killian Hayes found Olynyk on the move for the winner.
KELLY O-WIN-IT IN OT #PISTONSWIN
🔹 @SaddiqBey: 28 PTS / 8 REB / 3 AST / 11-18 FG
🔹 @JeramiGrant: 26 PTS / 4 REB / 2 AST / 11-19 FG
🔹 @KellyOlynyk: 20 PTS / 8 REB / 3 AST / 4-5 3PT pic.twitter.com/kR0vxHw0x2
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) February 28, 2022
DIFFICULTY: Olynyk, back down to 9.0 ppg after a career-high 13.5 last season (split between Miami and Houston), had sniffed double digits only twice in the last 11 games. On Sunday, he found his stroke in the fourth quarter, popping off for 13 points while shooting 4-for-7 after a 2-for-5 in the three periods prior. When the final play turned over to the Pistons, his substitution seemed inevitable.
With the Pistons clustered on the right wing to provide multiple targets for Killian Hayes, Olynyk patiently waited as the others peeled off before making his move to bail out Hayes. Moving toward the ball, he received Hayes’ bounce pass in stride moving left, then pivoted into the turnaround and released from 14 feet as momentum carried him out of bounds over the baseline near the right corner. P.J. Washington Jr. made a solid contest, but Olynyk’s aim was true.
Here’s the breakdown of Kelly Olynyk’s game-winner and why the play worked.
CELEBRATION: The ball hung long enough for Olynyk to watch and will the shot through the hoop. That led to a slow walk with the head nod, talking his … smack right into a crowd of closing teammates. Jubilation.
GRADE: Maybe it’s health, maybe it’s catching the right moments on either side of the All-Star break. But things are looking up for the moment in Detroit. Who says you can’t have fun on the way through the rebuild? Four Horrys.