During a recent NBA Cup matchup, Tim Hardaway Jr. of the Detroit Pistons suffered a head injury, leading to a temporary absence from the lineup. In his stead, Malik Beasley stepped up, showcasing his shooting prowess and achieving a double-double against the Milwaukee Bucks.

Beasley maintained impressive performance levels in subsequent games against the Toronto Raptors and Washington Wizards. However, upon Hardaway's return against the Chicago Bulls, Beasley reverted to a bench role despite his strong showing. Bickerstaff emphasized the importance of starting players returning from injury.