The Detroit Pistons secured a hard-fought 98-94 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night, improving their record to 16-18. Tobias Harris led the charge with 24 points and 10 rebounds, as the Pistons earned their fifth win in six games.
Detroit’s Cade Cunningham contributed 18 points, while Jalen Duren dominated the glass with 10 points and 14 rebounds. The Pistons used a strong defensive effort in the fourth quarter to hold off Charlotte, which extended its losing streak to nine games.
Miles Bridges was the leading scorer for the Hornets with 20 points, while Mark Williams added 18 points and nine rebounds. Despite their efforts, Charlotte struggled offensively in the final period, hitting just 21.1% of their shots.
The Hornets’ struggles from the free-throw line, where they shot just 63.3% overall, further hindered their comeback attempt.
Malik Beasley stepped up for the Pistons off the bench, logging 12 points in 31 minutes as he filled in for Jaden Ivey, who is out with a leg injury. Wendell Moore Jr., making his first start, went scoreless in 15 minutes but played a solid defensive role.
Charlotte’s offense faltered under pressure, with their 27 team fouls giving Detroit ample opportunities to capitalize. However, Detroit’s own struggles at the line, shooting just 61.5%, kept the game close until the final buzzer.
The Hornets, now 7-26, face increasing questions about their ability to turn the season around. Despite Bridges and Williams’ solid performances, the team’s prolonged offensive lapses and poor free-throw shooting remain glaring issues.
