Pistons Dominate Wizards 117-95 in First Game Without Cade Cunningham

WASHINGTON -- —The Detroit Pistons delivered a decisive 117-95 win over the Washington Wizards on Thursday night, their first game since All-Star guard Cade Cunningham was ruled out for at least two weeks with a collapsed left lung.

Jalen Duren led Detroit with 24 points and 11 rebounds in just 25 minutes, recording his 37th double double of the season. Duren’s performance followed a career-high 36-point outing in the Pistons’ 130-117 win over Washington two nights earlier. Paul Reed added 17 points, while Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert, and Kevin Huerter each contributed 14.

Detroit controlled the boards, outrebounding Washington 55-33 and scoring 66-26 in the paint. The Pistons opened the first quarter with a 35-14 surge and extended the lead to 25 points early in the second. Washington briefly closed within six during the second and third quarters following a 20-2 run that included a seven-point possession with contributions from Jaden Hardy and Tristan Vukcevic.

Vukcevic led the Wizards with 21 points, but Washington’s season-worst 14-game losing streak continues. The team holds the NBA’s second-worst record at 16-53 and is two games shy of matching a franchise-record 16-game slide set in March 2024.

Detroit will host Golden State on Friday, while Washington returns home to face Oklahoma City on Saturday. The Pistons’ depth and front court dominance in Cunningham’s absence will be critical as they aim to maintain momentum in the Eastern Conference standings.