OKLAHOMA CITY _ Reggie Jackson downplayed the significance of going against his former team _ before the game.
But after the Detroit Pistons pulled off a 99-98 escape against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, the Pistons point guard admitted the evening was a touch more special than a normal victory.
It was his first victory as a Piston at the place where Jackson spent the majority of the first four years of his career.
"It was definitely special because I haven't won in this building _ except for playing here and being on this team, but I hadn't won in this building with this team," Jackson said in the visitor's locker room at Energy Solutions Arena on Friday night. "It's good to get a team win like that and have these guys' backs and find a way to get one is special."
Avery Bradley's 3-pointer with 2:01 remaining gave Jackson the victory in the team's third attempt at winning in Oklahoma City since the Pistons obtained the point guard in February 2015.
When Thunder star point guard Russell Westbrook missed a 3-pointer in the closing seconds, the Pistons (12-6) were able to escape with their fifth road victory of the season.
Jackson's contributions were modest _ 12 points, four assists and three turnovers on 3 for 9 shooting. His two free throws with 34 seconds remaining gave the Pistons a 99-96 lead. He was 2 for 6 from 3-point range.
Jackson departed the Thunder under acrimonious circumstances given his public stance of wanting a change before the trade to the Pistons. Former Thunder star Kevin Durant took a verbal shot at Jackson after the trade; Durant and Westbrook were more critical when Jackson celebrated in front of the Thunder bench in 2016 after a key Pistons victory at the Palace.
But Jackson has refused to return fire at the Thunder. He even was complimentary of the franchise when one of his best friends, Paul George, was traded there this past offseason.
Still, his Pistons teammates understood the significance of the night.
Tobias Harris has been traded three times in his career, so he knows the feeling of going against a former team.
"You want to win every game, but any time you go back to somewhere that you've been before, you get more fuel to the fire a little bit," Harris said. "We were happy to come in here and get the victory. He played really well all throughout the game."
