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Isaiah Stewart · Comforted by a 17-point second quarter lead against a similarly-positioned Eastern Conference foe, the Detroit Pistons knew that only one, easier-said-than-done task remained: keeping one of the NBA’s most comeback-prone teams far into the rearview mirror. Fulfilling the task, fittingly, by barricading all driving lanes, Isaiah Stewart puts his defensive versatility on illustration, first by eliminating the screen-and-roll element of the Atlanta Hawks’ longtime two-man game. Left now with only the threat of Trae Young’s sure-to-be-crafty drive, Stewart gets level with Atlanta’s star, sending his layup attempt away with ferocity. In a survival-type win that saw Detroit win by one — despite leading for 47 of a possible 48 minutes — Stewart’s second-effort plays became a must-have on November 8, 2024. Building the early-season foundation for a 2024-25 campaign that currently ranks him among the NBA’s elite high-volume rim protectors, Stewart tallied 10 points (on five-of-eight shooting), 11 rebounds, three assists, and one block. · State of Mint