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WASHINGTON – Despite learning on Thursday, March 19, that Cade Cunningham will miss at least two weeks with a left collapsed lung, the Detroit Pistons took care of business on the road and reached a milestone the franchise hasn't seen in nearly two decades.
They blew out the Washington Wizards, 117-95, to improve to 50-19 overall. It's their first 50-win season since the 2007-08 season; they will add to the total with 13 games remaining. Jalen Duren stepped up in Cunningham's absence with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Paul Reed added 17 points, and Caris LeVert (14 points, six assists, five rebounds) and Kevin Huerter (14 points, four steals) delivered off of the bench.
The Pistons led by 21 points after the first quarter, 35-14, and never trailed despite the Wizards cutting it to six on multiple occasions. Detroit outscored Washington in the fourth quarter, 29-17, and pulled away after the Wizards cut it to 82-76 late in the third period.
MEDICAL ADVICE: Cade Cunningham has collapsed lung; a doc explains what that means
The Pistons’ 50-win season is their since 2007-08, which was also the last time the franchise won a playoff series, just two seasons after finishing with just 14 victories. It also stretched their lead over the Boston Celtics in the race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference to four games, and their lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division to eight games.
The Pistons won’t have much time to soak it in; they return to Little Caesars Arena to host the Golden State Warriors (minus Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Al Horford) on Friday (7:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit). That tips off a four-game homestand, with the LA Lakers visiting on Monday, the Atlanta Hawks in town on Wednesday and the New Orleans Pelicans at LCA on March 26.
The banged-up Wizards had no healthy centers on the roster on Tuesday, and thus had no answer for Duren as he scored a career-high 36 points. They got starting center Alex Sarr, a 7-foot big man and the 2024 No. 2 overall pick, back on Thursday. It didn't make much of a difference.
Sarr struggled with Duren's physicality and picked up his fifth foul midway through the third quarter. By that point, Duren already had 17 points. The Pistons immediately went to him in the post on back-to-back possessions, and both touches produced points. His night ended early – he exited the game late in the third quarter and returned to the bench in the fourth, but didn't check back in.
With Cunningham set to miss extended time, Duren is the Pistons' de facto primary option. He has been on a scoring tear since All-Star weekend, averaging 23.4 points per game on 67% shooting in his last 14 games entering Thursday.
"The ball’s gonna be in his hands a ton, obviously, and he has the ability," coach J.B. Bickerstaff said pregame. "And that’s the thing where it’s been great to see his growth overall as a connector also. He’s figured out not how to just be the scoring threat, but you put the ball in his hands and he may make the play that leads to the assist instead of just making the assist. He’s a guy that we’ll play through and he’s got the shoulders that are broad enough to get it done."
Outside of Cunningham, reliable playmaking has been an inconsistency for the Pistons. LeVert answered the call against the Wizards, chipping in six assists off of the bench.
He got the Pistons' offense moving early, driving to the rim and dishing underneath to Duren and Ron Holland for easy paint buckets during their 24-9 run to open the game. Toward the end of the opening period, he knocked down his first 3-pointer of the night through contact and completed the four-point play to extend their lead to 18.
It ended up being one of the Michigan alumnus' most complete games of the season, on both ends of the floor. He shot 5-for-8 and knocked down three of his four 3-point attempts from the arc. Thursday highlighted his underrated passing – his 19.3% assist percentage this season ranks in the 90th percentile among wings, per Cleaning The Glass. The team will continue leaning on him as Cunningham recovers.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons sweep Washington Wizards without Cade Cunningham
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They blew out the Washington Wizards, 117-95, to improve to 50-19 overall. It's their first 50-win season since the 2007-08 season; they will add to the total with 13 games remaining. Jalen Duren stepped up in Cunningham's absence with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Paul Reed added 17 points, and Caris LeVert (14 points, six assists, five rebounds) and Kevin Huerter (14 points, four steals) delivered off of the bench.
The Pistons led by 21 points after the first quarter, 35-14, and never trailed despite the Wizards cutting it to six on multiple occasions. Detroit outscored Washington in the fourth quarter, 29-17, and pulled away after the Wizards cut it to 82-76 late in the third period.
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MEDICAL ADVICE: Cade Cunningham has collapsed lung; a doc explains what that means
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The Pistons’ 50-win season is their since 2007-08, which was also the last time the franchise won a playoff series, just two seasons after finishing with just 14 victories. It also stretched their lead over the Boston Celtics in the race for the top seed in the Eastern Conference to four games, and their lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Central Division to eight games.
Next up for the Pistons
The Pistons won’t have much time to soak it in; they return to Little Caesars Arena to host the Golden State Warriors (minus Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Al Horford) on Friday (7:30 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network Detroit). That tips off a four-game homestand, with the LA Lakers visiting on Monday, the Atlanta Hawks in town on Wednesday and the New Orleans Pelicans at LCA on March 26.
Jalen Duren dominates against thin frontcourt
The banged-up Wizards had no healthy centers on the roster on Tuesday, and thus had no answer for Duren as he scored a career-high 36 points. They got starting center Alex Sarr, a 7-foot big man and the 2024 No. 2 overall pick, back on Thursday. It didn't make much of a difference.
Sarr struggled with Duren's physicality and picked up his fifth foul midway through the third quarter. By that point, Duren already had 17 points. The Pistons immediately went to him in the post on back-to-back possessions, and both touches produced points. His night ended early – he exited the game late in the third quarter and returned to the bench in the fourth, but didn't check back in.
With Cunningham set to miss extended time, Duren is the Pistons' de facto primary option. He has been on a scoring tear since All-Star weekend, averaging 23.4 points per game on 67% shooting in his last 14 games entering Thursday.
"The ball’s gonna be in his hands a ton, obviously, and he has the ability," coach J.B. Bickerstaff said pregame. "And that’s the thing where it’s been great to see his growth overall as a connector also. He’s figured out not how to just be the scoring threat, but you put the ball in his hands and he may make the play that leads to the assist instead of just making the assist. He’s a guy that we’ll play through and he’s got the shoulders that are broad enough to get it done."
Caris LeVert steps up as playmaker
Outside of Cunningham, reliable playmaking has been an inconsistency for the Pistons. LeVert answered the call against the Wizards, chipping in six assists off of the bench.
He got the Pistons' offense moving early, driving to the rim and dishing underneath to Duren and Ron Holland for easy paint buckets during their 24-9 run to open the game. Toward the end of the opening period, he knocked down his first 3-pointer of the night through contact and completed the four-point play to extend their lead to 18.
It ended up being one of the Michigan alumnus' most complete games of the season, on both ends of the floor. He shot 5-for-8 and knocked down three of his four 3-point attempts from the arc. Thursday highlighted his underrated passing – his 19.3% assist percentage this season ranks in the 90th percentile among wings, per Cleaning The Glass. The team will continue leaning on him as Cunningham recovers.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky and/or X @omarisankofa.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons sweep Washington Wizards without Cade Cunningham
Continue reading...
