Cade Cunningham scored 30 points on Wednesday, and Detroit held off the Charlotte Hornets 97-89 at Little Caesars Arena, according to ESPN’s game recap of the AP report. The Pistons had lost to the Knicks the night before, 111-97. They didn’t stay down long.
Detroit moves to 4-1 on the young NBA season, 2-0 at home. Charlotte falls to 3-2.
A Pistons bounce-back built on Hornets turnovers
Charlotte coughed the ball up 25 times to Detroit’s 14, according to Yahoo Sports. That gap decided the night.
The third quarter showed it best. Charlotte led 51-44 at the break. Then Detroit outscored the Hornets 32-19 in the period and forced eight turnovers, per the AP recap. By the end of three, the Pistons led 76-70, and they never gave it back.
Cunningham scores 30 and closes it out
The Cunningham 30-point game, a season high per Yahoo, came with seven assists, five rebounds and two steals on 10-for-22 shooting, 4-of-9 from three, Deadspin reported.
He also put the game away. Late in the fourth, Cunningham hit two 3-pointers. The second, with 30.5 seconds left, made it a three-possession game, per Yahoo Sports.
He had help, too. Ausar Thompson filled the stat sheet with 7 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists in only his second game back from a sprained ankle.
Here’s the thing: Detroit isn’t whole yet
If you follow the East, circle this part. The Pistons won without big man Jalen Duren (hamstring) and guard Isaiah Joe (hip). Paul Reed started in Duren’s place and responded with 16 points.
So if Detroit is 4-1 while missing starters, what does the ceiling look like at full strength? The rest of the league is quietly asking. For more on where the league’s contenders stand, see our look at last spring’s statement wins and rising stars.
What comes next after Cunningham’s big night
The schedule doesn’t let up. Detroit travels to Brooklyn on Friday for an NBA Cup game, then heads to Charlotte on Monday, Nov. 2 for the rematch, per Sports Media Watch’s listings. The Pistons beat the Hornets three times last season, and those games got chippy.
Meanwhile, the league’s biggest nights are already circled. Check the NBA Christmas Day schedule to see who might be next on the national stage. Expect Charlotte to bring a little extra to that rematch.
Expect Cunningham to be ready for it, too.
