Omari Sankofa II
@omarisankofa.bsky.social
Pistons beat writer for the Detroit Free Press.
Co-host of The Pistons Pulse podcast w/
@MotorCityHoops
Michigan State ‘16. Westsider.
Co-host of The Pistons Pulse podcast w/
@MotorCityHoops
Michigan State ‘16. Westsider.
Pinned
Nate Burleson's big brother forging own Detroit legacy with Pistons
Detroit Pistons assistant Kevin Burleson remembers the long drives through the metro Detroit area in the passenger seat of his younger brother’s car.
www.freep.com
Nate Burleson needs no introduction. More than a decade after starring for the Lions, his big brother is helping lead a different Detroit resurgence.
Meet Kevin Burleson, one of the architects of the NBA’s No. 2 defense and the Pistons’ 14-2 start.
www.freep.com/story/sports...
Meet Kevin Burleson, one of the architects of the NBA’s No. 2 defense and the Pistons’ 14-2 start.
www.freep.com/story/sports...
The 15-3 Pistons tied their franchise-best winning streak and start to a season this week.
My story on a team that’s solving the league and maturing into a contender.
www.freep.com/story/sports...
My story on a team that’s solving the league and maturing into a contender.
www.freep.com/story/sports...
Detroit Pistons' record start reveals growth even without win streak
Even with their loss to the Celtics on Wednesday, the Detroit Pistons' 15-3 start is tied for the best in franchise history. And they're not happy.
www.freep.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
The 15-3 Pistons tied their franchise-best winning streak and start to a season this week.
My story on a team that’s solving the league and maturing into a contender.
www.freep.com/story/sports...
My story on a team that’s solving the league and maturing into a contender.
www.freep.com/story/sports...
Tobias: “We were a second slow on too many plays tonight and when one game comes down to one, two, three points, all those mini plays throughout the entire course of the game add up. We know our standard and we know how good and locked in we need to be to win games.”
November 27, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Tobias: “We were a second slow on too many plays tonight and when one game comes down to one, two, three points, all those mini plays throughout the entire course of the game add up. We know our standard and we know how good and locked in we need to be to win games.”
JB on the 13-game streak: "I couldn't be more proud of the group win or loss. That’s just how they make you feel when you’re around them every day. They’re a phenomenal group … I'm very fortunate to be in this position with these guys."
November 27, 2025 at 12:56 AM
JB on the 13-game streak: "I couldn't be more proud of the group win or loss. That’s just how they make you feel when you’re around them every day. They’re a phenomenal group … I'm very fortunate to be in this position with these guys."
JB on the offense struggles in the 2nd half: "I feel like we still could’ve been better at moving a little more. We can still play faster which gives us an opportunity to make some easy ones. The pace slowed down for us and I would’ve liked for us to get more in transition."
November 27, 2025 at 12:55 AM
JB on the offense struggles in the 2nd half: "I feel like we still could’ve been better at moving a little more. We can still play faster which gives us an opportunity to make some easy ones. The pace slowed down for us and I would’ve liked for us to get more in transition."
FINAL: Celtics 117, Pistons 114. With a chance to tie, Cunningham went 2-3 at the line and they turned the ball over with 2.4 seconds left. Ends their 13-game winning streak, which tied a franchise record. 15-3 overall.
Cunningham: 42 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists
Cunningham: 42 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists
November 27, 2025 at 12:47 AM
FINAL: Celtics 117, Pistons 114. With a chance to tie, Cunningham went 2-3 at the line and they turned the ball over with 2.4 seconds left. Ends their 13-game winning streak, which tied a franchise record. 15-3 overall.
Cunningham: 42 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists
Cunningham: 42 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists
Wow. Cade made the first two and missed the last. They quickly fouled Pritchard with 2.4 seconds left. Down 115-114
Hold on. Might be three free throws
November 27, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Wow. Cade made the first two and missed the last. They quickly fouled Pritchard with 2.4 seconds left. Down 115-114
Cade will shoot two free throws with 3.8 seconds left. Down three, 115-112
November 27, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Cade will shoot two free throws with 3.8 seconds left. Down three, 115-112
It's a free throw battle. Celtics immediately put Cunningham on the line, and he made both and has 40 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
Pistons are down 113-112 with 9.1 seconds to go.
Pistons are down 113-112 with 9.1 seconds to go.
November 27, 2025 at 12:38 AM
It's a free throw battle. Celtics immediately put Cunningham on the line, and he made both and has 40 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.
Pistons are down 113-112 with 9.1 seconds to go.
Pistons are down 113-112 with 9.1 seconds to go.
White made both free throws. Pistons have a chance to force overtime with 9.9 seconds left down 113-110.
November 27, 2025 at 12:35 AM
White made both free throws. Pistons have a chance to force overtime with 9.9 seconds left down 113-110.
Derrick White poked the ball away from Cade, and Cade touched it last. Celtics ball with 12.8 seconds left. Pistons still down 111-110.
November 27, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Derrick White poked the ball away from Cade, and Cade touched it last. Celtics ball with 12.8 seconds left. Pistons still down 111-110.
JB calls timeout with 17.9 seconds remaining. Pistons ball down 111-110. 9 seconds on the shot clock
November 27, 2025 at 12:30 AM
JB calls timeout with 17.9 seconds remaining. Pistons ball down 111-110. 9 seconds on the shot clock
White hit a 3 to extend Boston's lead to four. Cade missed a hook, grabbed his own rebound and found Harris in the corner for a 3. Pistons are down 111-110
November 27, 2025 at 12:29 AM
White hit a 3 to extend Boston's lead to four. Cade missed a hook, grabbed his own rebound and found Harris in the corner for a 3. Pistons are down 111-110
Duren ties it at 105 with two free throws. 1:55 to play
November 27, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Duren ties it at 105 with two free throws. 1:55 to play
Celtics 100, Pistons 99. 4:23 to play. Cade will check in after the break.
November 27, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Celtics 100, Pistons 99. 4:23 to play. Cade will check in after the break.
LeVert's ability to get his own shot off the bench, for this team, is huge.
November 27, 2025 at 12:15 AM
LeVert's ability to get his own shot off the bench, for this team, is huge.
Cade played all but 21 seconds of the 3rd, and the first 3:40 of the 4th. A driving layup, followed by a dump off pass to Stew for a dunk, cuts it to 93-92 with 8:20 to play.
Cade has 15 points on 5-10 shooting in the 2nd half. His teammates have 19 pts on 6-19 shooting.
Cade has 15 points on 5-10 shooting in the 2nd half. His teammates have 19 pts on 6-19 shooting.
November 27, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Cade played all but 21 seconds of the 3rd, and the first 3:40 of the 4th. A driving layup, followed by a dump off pass to Stew for a dunk, cuts it to 93-92 with 8:20 to play.
Cade has 15 points on 5-10 shooting in the 2nd half. His teammates have 19 pts on 6-19 shooting.
Cade has 15 points on 5-10 shooting in the 2nd half. His teammates have 19 pts on 6-19 shooting.
Back-to-back 3s from Hauser and Simons. Pistons are down 92-85, biggest deficit of the night. Celtics have hit 17 3s and are overwhelming them from the perimeter
November 27, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Back-to-back 3s from Hauser and Simons. Pistons are down 92-85, biggest deficit of the night. Celtics have hit 17 3s and are overwhelming them from the perimeter
End of 3: Celtics 86, Pistons 83. Cunningham (30 points, 6 rebounds) was responsible for 13 of their 25 3rd-quarter points and is doing a carry job. Rest of the team can’t buy a bucket. Meanwhile Celtics shot 10-20 overall and 6-10 from 3.
Duren: 10 pts, 14 rebs
Thompson: 8 pts
Duren: 10 pts, 14 rebs
Thompson: 8 pts
November 27, 2025 at 12:01 AM
End of 3: Celtics 86, Pistons 83. Cunningham (30 points, 6 rebounds) was responsible for 13 of their 25 3rd-quarter points and is doing a carry job. Rest of the team can’t buy a bucket. Meanwhile Celtics shot 10-20 overall and 6-10 from 3.
Duren: 10 pts, 14 rebs
Thompson: 8 pts
Duren: 10 pts, 14 rebs
Thompson: 8 pts
Cade has 30 points with time left in the third and is responsible for 13 of their 23 points this quarter. Every bucket is needed as the Celtics hit 3 after 3
November 26, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Cade has 30 points with time left in the third and is responsible for 13 of their 23 points this quarter. Every bucket is needed as the Celtics hit 3 after 3
Refs called the push off on Brown, that's his fourth foul.
November 26, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Refs called the push off on Brown, that's his fourth foul.
Cade's leading everyone with 25 points on 8-16 shooting. Still 6:03 left in the 3rd.
November 26, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Cade's leading everyone with 25 points on 8-16 shooting. Still 6:03 left in the 3rd.
Celtics 67, Pistons 61. 8:39 in the 3rd. There's been a lid on the rim for the Pistons, missed several open 3s. Celtics have been in a rhythm shooting 11-25 (44%) from deep. Pistons are 6-22 (27.3%).
November 26, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Celtics 67, Pistons 61. 8:39 in the 3rd. There's been a lid on the rim for the Pistons, missed several open 3s. Celtics have been in a rhythm shooting 11-25 (44%) from deep. Pistons are 6-22 (27.3%).
Pistons have slumped to 39.6% overall. Shotmaking has been a struggle
November 26, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Pistons have slumped to 39.6% overall. Shotmaking has been a struggle
Ausar forces an eight-second violation picking up Pritchard full court to lead off the second half
November 26, 2025 at 11:32 PM
Ausar forces an eight-second violation picking up Pritchard full court to lead off the second half
JB's gone 11 deep so far. Question is if he can continue playing so many guys when the team isn't stringing together 48 minutes like it was prior. They shot 8-21 in the 2nd quarter and gave up too many open shots.
November 26, 2025 at 11:23 PM
JB's gone 11 deep so far. Question is if he can continue playing so many guys when the team isn't stringing together 48 minutes like it was prior. They shot 8-21 in the 2nd quarter and gave up too many open shots.