Recent addition Tim Hardaway Jr. sounded off in favor of Bickerstaff after a statement win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons defeated the best-in-the-Eastern-Conference Cavaliers on Friday, winning 133-122. Despite Donovan Mitchell scoring 38 points, the Pistons held strong, led by Hardaway Jr's 32 points.

Hardaway finished with 20 points (5-14 FG, 3-8 3Pt, 7-8 FT), four rebounds, one block and one steal in 30 minutes during Sunday's 123-104 loss to the Timberwolves. Hardaway was unable to repeat the 32-point performance he delivered against the Cavaliers,

DETROIT (AP) — Tim Hardaway Jr. scored a season-high 32 points and the Detroit Pistons beat the Eastern Conference-leading Cleveland Cavaliers 133-122 on Friday night to guarantee their first winning season since 2016. Detroit withstood a 38-point performance by Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, who scored 22 in the fourth quarter.