With Detroit Pistons down several players, rookie Marcus Sasser stepped up and produced his best performance on Wednesday in a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Sasser recorded 26 points, six rebounds, two assists and one steal in the 120-118 loss on the road. He scored 22 points in the second half and finished 11-of-17 from the field, including 3-of-7 from 3-point range, in 28 minutes off the bench.
He had everything working, from his 3-point shot to his floaters to his midrange shot. The effort was precisely what attracted the Pistons to select him with the 25th pick, coach Monty Williams said.
His handle, his courageousness, his shiftiness — the floaters, the jump shots off the dribble — is something we saw in him in the draft process, and if you look at his college footage, that is what he does. (Pistons general manager) Troy (Weaver) said in the preseason that he is just going to find his way on the floor, and he has. I’m proud of him.
Sasser played a minor role with the Pistons to start the year but has forced Williams’ hand and is playing more minutes of late. He has given the team a shooting presence and, on the other side, often picks up full court and is a pest on defense.
Once the first 3-pointer went in to start the third quarter, Sasser knew he could be in store for a big night. He made nine of his 13 shot attempts in the second half.
“It kind of just felt good,” Sasser said. “Just going out there at halftime trying to break a sweat and practice my game shots that I know I’m going to get, so really just being prepared. (I was) in the zone, and my teammates did a good job of finding me when I was open.”
Career high night for @m_sasser0 pic.twitter.com/Je6EndqDMd
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 9, 2023
Sasser is one of two rookies with multiple 20-point games this year (Victor Wembanyana, San Antonio Spurs). He is averaging 10.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists in nine games on 50% shooting (17-of-34) from 3-point range.
The performance was likely a preview of the type of production Sasser can bring nightly. He believes it was possible thanks to the coaching staff and his teammates.
“They be telling me every time I go out there to be aggressive,” Sasser said. “I’m aggressive in practice, so they just want to see me do the same thing in the game. When they give me confidence like that, it also gives myself the confidence to go out there and be aggressive.”
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