Cade Cunningham Leads Pistons Past Kings 139–116 as Detroit Continues East’s Best Run

Detroit, Michigan — Cade Cunningham posted 29 points and 11 assists as the Detroit Pistons delivered a decisive 139–116 win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night, continuing one of the most dominant stretches in the NBA this season.

Detroit bounced back from a home loss to Houston on Friday and earned its fifth win in six games, improving to 33–11. After a 35–35 opening quarter, the Pistons seized control by outscoring Sacramento 43–30 in the second period and never relinquished momentum.

Cunningham shot 13 of 22 from the field, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, while orchestrating the offense with consistent pace and control. Jalen Duren added 18 points on 7 of 8 shooting, continuing his efficient interior play, and Tobias Harris contributed 16 points as Detroit finished with six players in double figures.

The Pistons entered the night leading the Eastern Conference and again demonstrated their balance and depth, scoring efficiently at all three levels while forcing Sacramento into extended defensive rotations. Detroit shot 55 percent from the field and consistently won transition possessions after defensive stops.

Malik Monk led the Kings with 19 points, while DeMar DeRozan finished with 16. Sacramento has now dropped five straight games and fell to 12–35 as it continues to search for consistency amid lineup changes and injury recovery.

Domantas Sabonis appeared in his fifth game since returning from a two month absence due to a knee injury. He finished with 12 points on 6 of 7 shooting, along with eight assists and seven rebounds in 24 minutes and 44 seconds, as the Kings continue to manage his workload.

The win reinforces Detroit’s status as one of the league’s most efficient offensive teams and highlights Cunningham’s continued growth as a primary playmaker capable of dictating high level games. With nearly the midpoint of the season approaching, the Pistons remain firmly positioned as a contender in the Eastern Conference standings.

Sacramento will travel to New York to face the Knicks on Tuesday night, while Detroit heads to Denver for a road matchup against the Nuggets as it looks to extend its momentum against elite competition.