With the score tied up at 98 all in the closing seconds, Reggie Jackson drilled a game-winning jump shot with just 2.3 seconds left to send the Los Angeles Clippers to a 100-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
Jackson finished with a season-high 29 points, including 10 alone in the fourth quarter, versus his former team. Jackson helped erase an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit as the Clippers appeared to be on the verge of having their six-game winning streak snapped.
The shot by Jackson came over Pistons rookie Killian Hayes, who finished with eight points and six assists off the bench. Hayes’ 3-pointer as time expired on the other end of the floor fell short to seal the two-point victory for L.A.
While Hayes gave up his first game-winning shot, Pistons head coach Dwane Casey wanted the rookie to experience that moment. The process of going through that situation, Casey explained, will help prepare him for the future.
“It’s exactly what tonight was about,” Casey said. “I could have easily taken him out to put more experience in there, getting Cory (Joseph) back in for Killian. It was (about) him getting those reps and making him understand how it feels in those close-game situations.”
REGGIE JACKSON. BALL GAME 😤 pic.twitter.com/Loxf0Ei0Mj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 15, 2021
The Pistons have often prioritized the development of Hayes and the other rookies on the team this season. By experiencing those late-game situations, they will know how to perform during those stressful moments in the future as they continue to grow on the court.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
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