The Detroit Pistons haven’t had an entire lot to have fun throughout a dismal 2023/24 season. The Pistons, nonetheless mired in a prolonged rebuild, have been within the NBA‘s basement for just about your entire season, however the group and its followers can look again on Wednesday night time fondly when the marketing campaign involves an in depth this month.
Reserve level guard Malachi Flynn turned the eleventh participant this season to attain no less than 50 factors in a recreation when Detroit visited the Atlanta Hawks for an in any other case non-descipt Wednesday night time recreation late within the season. For the previous first-round choose, it’s the fruits to at least one portion of his profession — and the beginning of one other thrilling chapter that might be rife with alternative.
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Flynn’s path to the Pistons
Born in Tacoma, Washington, Flynn was named state highschool participant of the yr as a senior at Bellarmine Prep in his hometown. Flynn dedicated to Washington State and performed two years for the Cougars earlier than transferring to San Diego State for his closing two seasons of NCAA basketball — the place he was named Mountain West Participant of the 12 months as a senior, in 2019/20.
The Toronto Raptors chosen Flynn twenty ninth general within the 2020 NBA Draft, and the 6’1” level guard began 14 video games as a rookie. Over components of 4 seasons with the Raptors, Flynn performed 181 video games — together with six within the playoffs — and was most frequently seen coming off the bench earlier than he was dealt to the New York Knicks within the O.G. Anunoby blockbuster on Dec. 30.
Flynn’s tenure within the Huge Apple didn’t final lengthy. 5 weeks after arriving in New York, the 25-year-old was on the transfer once more, dealt to Detroit in a six-player commerce. Getting into Wednesday night time, Flynn was averaging 5.8 factors per recreation on 42 p.c capturing throughout 17 appearances for the Pistons.
Malachi makes historical past whilst Detroit loses
Flynn’s modest scoring common will skyrocket following his 50-point night time at State Farm Area. In his acquainted function off the bench, Flynn made up for starter Jaden Ivey‘s poor night time (eight factors on 3-15 capturing) with a career-best recreation to maintain the Pistons aggressive in opposition to a Hawks group preventing for playoff positioning.
Flynn made 18 of his 25 shot makes an attempt — together with 5 of 9 three-pointers — and he added a team-high 5 assists, in addition. With star guard Cade Cunningham out as a result of a knee harm, Flynn was as much as the duty of holding Detroit afloat.
Flynn’s protection was spectacular, too. He notched six rebounds and 5 steals because the Pistons tried to battle again from a 22-point deficit on an evening during which coach Monty Williams performed solely 9 gamers.
Flynn’s 50-point recreation is about as unlikely as they arrive. Per ESPN, no participant in NBA historical past has ever posted 50-plus factors in a recreation with as low a scoring common as Flynn had coming into the sport in Atlanta.
Sadly for the Pistons, Flynn’s greatest effort simply wasn’t sufficient. Atlanta received, 121-113, to clinch a spot within the Play-In Match, whereas Detroit fell to 13-63 — guaranteeing a second consecutive marketing campaign with fewer than 20 wins.
