Pistons bounce back from loss, blow out Nets

Field Level Media|published: Sun 2nd March, 01:12 2025

Mar 1, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe (20) is defended by Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (28) in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Jalen Duren powered for 18 points, 11 rebounds and a career-high six blocks and the host Detroit Pistons won for the ninth time in 10 games, downing the Brooklyn Nets 115-94 on Saturday night.

Detroit bounced back from a 15-point loss to Denver on Friday as Tobias Harris had 18 points and nine rebounds and Malik Beasley also scored 18. Beasley was ejected with 6:39 remaining after picking up his second technical foul.

Cade Cunningham tossed in 15 points with nine assists and Ausar Thompson added 13 points.

Tyrese Martin led the Nets with 23 points off the bench. Jalen Wilson had 14 points and Cameron Johnson added 13.

The Pistons jumped to a 39-22 lead by the end of the first quarter. Hardaway gave Detroit its first double digit lead at 14-4 with a 3-pointer. Beasley scored 14 points in the final five minutes of the quarter. He knocked down four 3-pointers during that span.

Brooklyn pulled within 11 at 41-30 on a pair of Martin free throws with 9:22 left in the first half but the Pistons scored the next six points, including another Beasley 3-pointer.

A three-point play from Harris with 5:53 left in the half upped Detroit's advantage to 23, 56-33. Duren's three-point play with 3:14 remaining in the quarter gave the Pistons their biggest lead of the half at 63-38.

The half ended with Detroit leading 68-45. Duren already had a double-double before the break with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Nets opened the second half with a 14-5 run to pull within 14 points.

Johnson's 3-pointer with 2:47 left in the quarter cut Detroit's lead to 81-69, igniting a 9-0 Brooklyn run to end the quarter. Martin's layup moved the Nets within six points at 81-75.

Detroit's Tim Hardaway Jr. opened the fourth with a 3-pointer. After the Nets cut their deficit to eight points with 8:18 to play, Detroit scored eight unanswered points to put the game away.

Cunningham knocked down a 3-pointer and Duren had a three-point play. Cunningham then set up Harris for a dunk. Cunningham's three-point play with 5:56 remaining pushed the Pistons' lead to 20.

--Field Level Media

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