Pistons start fast, hang on to defeat Hornets 112-102

Field Level Media|published: Sun 9th February, 15:52 2025

Feb 9, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren (0) tries to score on Charlotte Hornets forward Taj Gibson (67) in the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

Cade Cunningham recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds and the Detroit Pistons never trailed while earning a 112-102 victory over the visiting Charlotte Hornets on Sunday afternoon.

Tobias Harris had 20 points and Malik Beasley supplied 17 as the Pistons won their second straight after two losses. Jalen Duren racked up 16 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, while Ausar Thompson added 16 points and eight rebounds.

Miles Bridges led the Hornets with 30 points and nine rebounds. Seth Curry supplied 26 points and Isaiah Wong tossed in 17. Charlotte was without LaMelo Ball (ankle).

On Friday, the Pistons scored a season high 78 points by halftime while defeating the Philadelphia 76ers. Detroit got off to another hot start, racing to a 66-46 halftime lead against Charlotte.

The Pistons were up 39-15 by the end of the first quarter. They scored the last 13 points of the quarter with Harris starting the run with a bank shot. Beasley then went on a personal 11-point run. He knocked a trio of 3-pointers and added a dunk during that span.

Detroit's advantage grew to 28 points at 52-24 with 7:11 remaining in the first half as Holland scored nine points in the first five minutes of the quarter. Charlotte cut its deficit to 17 late in the quarter before Cunningham drained a 3-pointer.

The Pistons picked up where they left off after halftime, scoring the first six points of the third quarter. Thompson made a pair of layups and Cunningham found Duren for a dunk.

Curry made a 3-pointer midway through the third to cut the Pistons' advantage to 79-60. After the Pistons pushed the lead to 23, the Hornets answered with an 11-2 run. Beasley hit a 3-pointer to give Detroit a 90-73 advantage heading into the fourth.

The Hornets nearly erased that in the first four minutes of the fourth, scoring 14 unanswered points. Curry was the catalyst with nine of those points.

A Simpson 3-pointer moved Charlotte within two points with 7:48 remaining. Cunningham answered with a midrange shot, then found Dennis Schroder for a 3-pointer. When Cunningham made two free throws with 3:54 left, the Pistons again were up by double digits.

--Field Level Media

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