DETROIT, Mich. - The Detroit Pistons have a new feel as the 2021 season starts. After one of the most exciting offseasons in franchise history, there is a different aura surrounding this team. A large part of that was the selection of Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, giving Detroit fans a clear superstar to rally behind. Combine that buzz with Jerami Grant's run with Team USA and the All-Rookie seasons from Saddiq Bey and Isiah Stewart in 2020 and it is clear why the Pistons feel different.

On Wednesday, Cunningham was inactive (ankle) as the Pistons opened their preseason schedule with a home matchup with the San Antonio Spurs. Still, that new feel was evident even without Cade on the floor. The Pistons dominated for most of the game, eventually running away with a 115-105 victory to open their preseason in the win column.

A hot start from Jerami Grant allowed the Pistons to take a commanding lead early. Nine of Grant's team-high 19 points came in the first quarter as the Pistons led by 17 points at the end of the first.

San Antonio would bounce back in the second quarter, briefly claiming a three-point lead before falling back behind by three to end the half. From there, the Spurs had no answer for the Pistons' bench players. Josh Jackson had 16 of the Pistons' 68 bench points as they pulled away in the second half for the double-digit victory.

It may just be a preseason game, but any victory earned without Cade Cunningham forcing himself to play on his injured ankle is a great sign for the Pistons. Both teams will have three more preseason matchups before their regular-season openers on October 20.

Joseph, Jackson Pick Up for Cunningham, Hayes

The young, talented backcourt is the attention-grabbing element of this Pistons team. Cade Cunningham is special in his own right, but many Detroit fans are hoping to see a real breakthrough year from Killian Hayes. The second-year guard from France was a lottery pick in 2020 and was thought to be the point guard of the future. Now, many want to see how he and Cunningham will coexist in the same backcourt.

Unfortunately for Pistons fans, they will have to wait a bit longer before they see either player on the floor. Both Cunningham and Hayes are nursing ankle injuries suffered in training camp, injuries that kept both young guards out of action against the Spurs on Wednesday.

It would be nice to have two young players like these two being able to use these preseason matchups to gain some chemistry in some in-game scenarios. However, no one can control injuries; the Pistons would much rather the two youngsters miss preseason games rather than regular-season matchups.

Thankfully, Detroit got huge games from role players like Cory Joseph and Josh Jackson on Wednesday. They combined for 30 points on 13-22 FG shooting off the bench in the Pistons' win. Those two could be in much bigger roles early in the year if these injuries carry over into the regular season.

Up Next

Spurs vs. Heat, Friday, October 8, AT&T Center, San Antonio, Texas.

Pistons @ Grizzlies, Monday, October 11, FedExForum, Memphis, Tenn.