The Detroit Pistons extended their winning streak to five games with a 125-110 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. Cade Cunningham led the way with 25 points and 12 assists, spearheading a decisive 19-0 run that shifted the momentum in Detroit’s favor.
Cunningham scored seven points during the run, which began late in the second quarter and stretched into the third. His playmaking helped the Pistons (30-26) solidify their hold on sixth place in the Eastern Conference.
Jalen Duren contributed 21 points and 15 rebounds, controlling the paint against an undersized Spurs frontcourt. Tobias Harris added 22 points, while Malik Beasley provided 16 off the bench, knocking down four three-pointers. Beasley has now hit 29 threes over his last five games.
San Antonio (24-30) was led by Keldon Johnson, who scored 28 points, and De’Aaron Fox, who finished with 27. The Spurs, playing their second straight game in Austin, Texas, were still adjusting to the absence of Victor Wembanyama, who was ruled out for the season due to a blood clot in his right shoulder.
Detroit dominated the glass, outrebounding the Spurs 52-33 and grabbing 19 offensive rebounds. Those extra possessions resulted in 21 second-chance points, which proved critical in the outcome.
San Antonio controlled much of the first half, using a 10-0 run to build a 10-point lead with three minutes left in the second quarter. Fox and Johnson combined for 30 first-half points, hitting 13 of their 19 shot attempts.
However, the Pistons’ 19-0 run erased the deficit and turned the tide. Detroit outscored San Antonio 38-18 in the third quarter, using their size advantage and efficient shooting to seize control.
Harris was nearly perfect from the field, making 8 of 10 shots, while Duren anchored the defense with 15 rebounds and a block. Cunningham orchestrated the offense, finishing with 12 assists despite committing seven turnovers.
For the Spurs, Fox and Johnson did most of the scoring, but the team struggled to get production from others. Devin Vassell, a key offensive piece, was held to six points on 2-of-7 shooting.
San Antonio shot 51.2% from the field, but their 14 missed free throws and inability to limit Detroit’s second-chance opportunities were costly.
