Cade Cunningham led the Detroit Pistons to a thrilling 118-115 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night, finishing with 32 points and nine assists. The win pushed the Pistons to an 18-18 record, marking their first .500 standing after New Year’s Day since the 2018-19 season.
Tim Hardaway Jr. contributed 26 points, and Jalen Duren added 14 points and 12 rebounds in the victory. Detroit, who had been 3-33 at the same point last season, has now won seven of their last eight games.
The Trail Blazers, led by Anfernee Simons with 36 points and nine assists, and Shaedon Sharpe, who recorded 20 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds, held a 22-point lead in the first half. Despite their strong start, Portland faltered down the stretch.
With 3:39 left, Hardaway tied the game with a jumper, then gave the Pistons the lead with a 3-pointer to make it 109-106. After a quick exchange of baskets, Simons’ layup narrowed the gap to one point. However, a clutch 3-pointer by Malik Beasley pushed Detroit’s lead to 114-110, and despite Deandre Ayton’s dunk for Portland with under a minute remaining, Duren’s putback sealed the win for Detroit.
Portland had an early surge in the second quarter, outscoring Detroit 17-0 in the first three minutes, fueled by four consecutive 3-pointers from Sharpe and Simons. Despite Portland’s strong shooting performance — 53.3% from the field compared to Detroit’s 44.7% — the Pistons dominated at the free-throw line, converting 19 of 22 attempts, while the Blazers hit just 3 of 5. Additionally, Detroit’s 17-7 advantage in offensive rebounds played a pivotal role in the outcome.
Notable Moments:
- Before the game, Portland’s coach Chauncey Billups, a key member of Detroit’s 2004 NBA Championship team, was honored for his contributions to the franchise and his recent induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
- The Pistons’ win marks their first .500 record since the 2018-19 season, when they finished with a 41-41 record. That year, a knee injury to Blake Griffin hindered their playoff run, as they were swept by the Milwaukee Bucks.
